My mom and I have wanted to try this place for a long time. Finally made the trip and it did not disappoint! She ordered the Chicken and Waffles, I got the Shrimp and Grits, the kids got Chocolate Chip Pancakes and French Toast. I tried a little of everyone's food and would order every meal again. I have had Shrimp and Grits places where the gravy/sauce over powers everything and is almost like soup, but here it was perfect! The Chicken and Waffles was a huge portion that my mom and I decided we may split next time. It was super delicious and she let me take her leftovers home( insert happy food dance)! The resturant is kind of small so it does get to be a little loud and crowded. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. There is plenty of artwork and stickers all over the walls to keep you entertained while you wait. The corner by the bathroom has a small selection of local products like grits and honey along with stickers, shirts and hats for the resturant. We will definitely be repeat customers! read more

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Small diner with ~15 tables total. About 8 addl seats at the counter. Staff is friendly. Food is always hot. Coffee is good. It's usually a wait ~ 20 mins or less. Good choice if you have to wait at a nearby dealer/service center. (within walking distance from Pep Boys). read more

Early Bird Diner - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Solid Breakfast Spot Worth the Wait. We stopped by The Early Bird Diner on a busy morning and were greeted with a 15-minute wait, which is pretty standard for popular breakfast places. Parking was definitely at a premium--expect to circle the lot or park on the other side of Savannah Highway and risk the four lane crossing--but once we got seated, the food more than made up for it. My chicken and waffles arrived piping hot, with the chicken perfectly tender and juicy on the inside and nicely crisped on the outside. The French toast was also excellent--fluffy, flavorful, and cooked just right. Our waitress was attentive and friendly, and the food came out surprisingly quickly considering how crowded the restaurant was. The only real drawback was the syrup. It lacked depth and flavor, which was a bit disappointing since it's such a key component for both the waffles and French toast. They'd benefit greatly from upgrading to a higher-quality option. That said, the prices were very reasonable, and the portion sizes were generous--the chicken and waffles plate was huge! Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back. Next time we might lean toward one of their savory dishes instead of anything that relies heavily on syrup. Recommended? Yes, especially if you're craving classic breakfast comfort food. read more

Early Bird Diner - Chicken and waffles - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We always drive by and see them packed. But today we stopped in early. Our server was very pleasant and he made some suggestions. I got the chicken and waffles and enjoyed. Chicken was crispy and good flavor. Huge portion!! My boyfriend got the eggs Benedict. (Sorry I didn't get a photo... I was eating). My food came way before his did. He didn't care for it much... it looked okay but I've seen better. They have really neat local artists paintings on the wall. Very unique. read more

Early Bird Diner - Chicken and waffles - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We showed up to the Early Bird Diner late, which felt a little wrong given the name, but the coffee was hot, so all was forgiven. Breakfast plates here aren't shy; they come out loaded with all the good, down-to-earth stuff you actually want to eat. We ordered a basic cheese omelet with sides of sliced avocado and tomato, and both were perfect. You can't fake freshness like that. The avocado was buttery and bright, and the tomato tasted like it had been picked that morning. We also got a classic plate of eggs with HOMEMADE home fries (yes, homemade!), shell eggs instead of that cheap pourable stuff, really great bacon, and Texas-thick toast. The orange juice tasted fresh, but I'll admit I didn't ask. The plates were so big they practically covered the whole table, which made me laugh because it's exactly what diner breakfast should be: generous, a little chaotic, and completely satisfying. Presentation was simple, the kind you expect from a real diner, but the food itself was fresh, hearty, and way better than you'd think something served at noon in a place called Early Bird would be. read more

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As soon as I saw the giant skeleton rooster outside , I knew I was b the right place for me! Let's start with the coffee! It was delicious! Our server Hannah let us know that the coffee is local. It's a must try item. We asked Hanna what's popular and what she recommends as we are from San Diego. We ordered two out of the three things she suggested and they both did not disappoint. Right after we ordered shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles I saw the banana pudding pancake and you can in fact order just one! Do not skip this either. It had real bananas and the pudding swirl was delicious and props to the nilla wafers on top too. The chicken and waffles; the chicken was two boneless chicken breasts and cinnamon waffles. I couldn't even finish half. It is a huge plate. The chicken was juicy and fried perfectly. The sauce for the chicken, I couldn't even finish literally bathe in. The shrimp and grits were absolutely scrumptious. The shrimps was also cooked perfectly and this was stick to your ribs good. Un pictured, the biscuit that came with was delicious and so fresh tasting. I see why this place is so busy. There is plenty to see when you walk inside. It seems like they support a lot of local artists and I appreciate that Thanks for excellent service Hannah! read more

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Great food and service. Best grits!! Bought some humble hot sauce too! Diner vibe and food came quick. read more

Early Bird Diner - French toast - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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A Charleston institution! Love the local art and comfy vibe. Ordered the special omelette which had scallions, jalapeño, corn, and cheese. Super delicious. Their biscuits are fire! read more

Early Bird Diner - Omelette - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

My parents and I came in for lunch on a Wednesday and it was pretty busy! Service was attentive - our food took a while and someone came by after 40 minutes to let us know our ticket fell and so wasn't seen by but they were working on it immediately which we appreciated! I'm sure service is typically quicker. Portions of food are pretty good but not large to where you feel horribly stuffed. Very casual diner serving up brunch classics but some with a fun spin. I absolutely loved my corn cake benedict as my pancake was like a corn fritter which I love. read more

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What a cool local diner in West Ashley, I enjoyed the throwback to old school restaurant days. The food was top notch, chicken tenders were fried perfectly and the fries were tasty. Then the biscuits and gravy were fantastic, the white gravy was excellent. read more

Early Bird Diner - Pecan Fried Chicken Tenders - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The diner is small but very popular!! The food was decent but it wasn't piping hot when it came out. I don't send food back to the kitchen. I ordered an omelet with cheese and fruit. It also came with a biscuit, which was pretty good. The food came out quickly. Our sever was also really nice. Note: Parking is tight and this place is usually packed so literally try to get there early. I don't remember their hours during the week but on Sundays they close at 2. read more

Service was great - friendly and accommodating. Prices were a bit high. $40 for two people to eat a small breakfast with coffee. (Eggs, bacon and toast for one- a single pancake, egg and bacon for the other). Biggest complaint was the place was just in need of a deep clean. The window blinds had grime and a copious amount of dust piled on them. Restroom was in dire need of a deep cleaning as well. It's an older, cute, quaint stop - so nothing to do with the building - just the upkeep. read more

Love this spot for a great breakfast! Parking is tight sometimes and there is sometimes a wait so just be aware. You do have to wait in the sun as they don't have waiting space inside. Mostly tables for 4-5 people and we love sitting at the bar. The staff are friendly and keep coffee refilled. The biscuits and gravy is great - add a sausage patty. The side fruit is a good amount for the price point. Their biscuits aren't a classic recipe but are super tasty. read more

We've visited EBD several times throughout the years. Parking is stressful! Food and service is always good for this breakfast/lunch spot. I've only done breakfast but others in my group had lunch this last visit and they were happy with their selection. read more

Their food is consistently amazing year after year. Check out this HUGE pork chop! Service is always exceptional. Parking is challenging but worth the hassle. read more

Early Bird Diner - Pork chop and scrambled eggs. - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Pancakes are a must get. I loved the pancakes. The service was good not exceptional. It's an old diner so the feel was a diner with one bathroom. Oh my daughter ordered blueberry pancakes and the blueberries were so juicy. read more

Early Bird Diner - Cool sign in the restaurant - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Service was great. An employee at the front seats you when you walk in. Has a diner-like atmosphere. Parking availability is the only negative thing about this place. Grits were thick, creamy, and flavorful. One of the best I've had in Charleston. Chicken biscuit was great. The chicken was crispy. The biscuit was nice and fluffy. Also tasted the pancake, which I will definitely be ordering next time! Tasted as though there was cinnamon in the batter and I loved it. Will be returning! read more

Early Bird Diner - Chicken biscuit - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The place was amazing. I get a great hipster vibe. Everyone is chill and very nice! The food as you can see by the pictures was excellent! Coffee was great and the service was equally good. Just a local diner with a great reputation. It was featured on diners, drive in's and dives! read more

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This little diner west of the Ashley is one of the our town's best spots. Hidden in plain sight, this offers some of the best breakfast you can find anywhere in Charleston. The Mess was a great dish with earthy tones- it tasted healthy but had great flavor. The pancake was rich and flavorful. I sat at the bar and the service was wonderful. Great for a Sunday brunch or a weekday treat. read more

Early Bird Diner - The pancake - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Great food and great service. Got the chicken and waffles and the country scramble, both perfectly cooked. I really liked the diner atmosphere too. Looking forward to returning! read more

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A refreshing site to visit a local diner. I ordered the two eggs over easy, bacon, and a biscuit. The eggs were delicious, but I wasn't impressed when the bacon was served sitting in grease. Excellent service. Great place for solo diners. The atmosphere is 100% local vibe. read more

I have been coming to early bird for years and it never disappoints. The biscuits and gravy are a must try. The gravy is so delicious I'd buy gallons if I could. They're always very nice and the restaurant feels honey. This time I had the mess, which is a vegetarian entree and it was delicious. The curried vegetables were super good with the biscuits and gravy. I always get the Mac and cheese because it's also a must. Can't wait for next time. read more

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Absolutely as good as I had anticipated it would be. It's quaint and even st 1 pm during the week after the morning rush it was still busy. It kind of hits like a cousin of a NJ Diner, a greasy spoon feel but certainly a southern influence as well. The wife had the simple eggs and side breakfast. It was fresh prepared eggs and the potatoes were absolutely outstanding. I had the " mess " which was curried eggs that also had peppers and onions. It was the perfect level of curry flavor and it did not last long on my plate. One of the sides I had was the fried okra, could have been an appetizer with the size it was. Also be sure to get the lemonade I am almost certain it was fresh squeezed. read more

I've been to Early Bird Diner probably 50 times. When I lived in Charleston I'd come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or post drinking! It seems now they are no longer open late but still a great place to get breakfast or lunch! No frills diner with a counter and great service. I always order the sweet tea and the chicken and waffles. Well not always, but usually! Pecan crusted chicken with the honey mustard and syrup is just amazing. Oh yeah the fried green tomatoes are great too! Every time I visit Charleston now I make sure that one of my meals is here read more

Early Bird Diner - Chicken and Waffles - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I used to LOVE this place!!! I don't know what happened. The food wasn't bad but not as good as it used to be. My main issue was the service! I had to get up out of my seat and go find my waitress because she kept disappearing and forgetting things I ordered. She also dropped our (incorrect) check on the table and RAN away instead of asking if we needed anything else so I had to get up and find another server... Really bizarre. We were there for an hour and she only checked on us twice unfortunately. I believe she was new because I've never had this issue with any other server there! :( I would definitely avoid this place on Sundays...service was objectively not satisfactory. read more

Pancakes were delicious, with a tasty yeasty flavor. Bacon could have been crispier, next time I will specify. The waitress kept my coffee filled. The entire facility was very clean, and just like it's name, it really looked like a diner. Parking lot is tiny and treacherous, drive carefully. The lot must be smaller than the restaurant, because the lot was packed but we were seated immediately. If I make a direct comparison to Sunrise on Johns Island, Sunrise food is slightly less expensive. Early Bird was a better experience (seated quickly, environment looks cleaner and better). read more

This is my favorite local diner! Every time I come in town, I have to stop in for their shrimp and grits. I have had a few different dishes from Early Bird, and I have never been disappointed. They make awesome dishes with loads of flavor. The staff is always so friendly, and makes you feel right at home. There is local art for sale all around the dining room, which makes for ever-changing decor. We love supporting local businesses read more

Early Bird Diner - Corn cakes Benedict - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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As a visitor I don't know from Southern diners but I'm still going to say this was great. Smallish menu, everyone friendly, fluffy biscuits, great Country Scramble, terrific grits and the pancake on point. Nobody wouldn't like this, whether you're from here or not. read more

Early Bird Diner - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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It's been a long time since I had my Granny's biscuits. But, this biscuit right here definitely evoked those childhood memories of sitting in her kitchen kneading dough. I really enjoyed the hot and honey chicken biscuit with a side of seasonal fruit. The biscuit was light, fluffy, buttery, deliciousness! The chicken was very tender and seasoned just right making it the perfect bite. I can't wait to try more! read more

Early Bird Diner - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Crazy busy on weekends with limited parking, so come early (or late). Selections are both familiar and funky--the expected grits, pancakes and egg dishes with some surprising offerings like "The Mess", which is a potato, egg and curried vegetable scramble. Not bad. Service was excellent and got me and my friends in and out without any fuss. Recommended. (4 stars). read more

We stopped here as we were waiting to have new tires put on. It had great reviews, but the food was very mediocre. $10 for grilled cheese and $4.25 for a side of tomato slices. Pretty much a rip off! My boyfriend said his pancakes were average at best. For a simple diner with no frills, the prices seemed a bit high. Wouldn't recommend or come back. read more

Small interior and an extremely tight parking lot. One way in, one way out. They don't really do big parties at one table. You'll most likely be separated. I got the classic eggs any style. Over hard, single pancake, and sourdough toast, add house-made sausage. It's $4.25 to add sausage. Is it worth it?? The sausage is pretty good in my opinion. The pancakes are really good too. Highly recommend. Unless you don't like cinnamon because they are made with it. The inside is covered with psychedelic artwork. The service is good. We arrived around 9:30-10 am and only had to wait 10 mins so I think all around this place is good. Would come back again. read more

Good morning fellow Yelpers' It's 70 degrees and the wind factor outside is strong hereCharleston, SC and it's just the right environment for Early Bird Dinner chimney stacks. As the smells of breakfast and brunch fill the air, I strong recommend this restaurant to visitors, locals and anyone who loves great food. The Establishment is better small but the host and staff are very welcoming as the delicious food feels your emotional dial with joy. Tucked away in the corner this is most definitely a place for all to experience once in a lifetime. The name of my waiter was Shaune, how was very helpful. If you've visited this location please share your experience. I know mine was great. read more

Early Bird Diner - Blueberry Pancake - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Yum, yum, yum. Menu options were plentiful and delicious. We were greeted immediately and seated promptly. A little nervous when we found the parking lot full thinking we had to wait, but that's also a sign this is the place to be. Food was fantastic, very relaxed atmosphere. Daily specials available read more

I'm updating this because I forgot to post pictures with my review. What made the chicken and waffles so popular could be that they added pecan to the fried chicken so that it has a sweeter taste and the waffles are cinnamon. Make sure you use that honey mustard bbq sauce, it helps balance out the flavor. They were able to split the entree onto two plates if you're sharing. This version of the shrimp and grits has bacon, scallions, and grape tomatoes. Definitely one of my favorite versions. That tomato gravy was very creamy and delicious. read more

Early Bird Diner - Sauteed shrimp and grits - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Came here because I was wanting to get some breakfast and then found out that it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives! What a surprise as a visitor to the city. We were seated quickly and given the menu. It was hard to decide what food I wanted, but I ended up deciding on the Shrimp and Grits. It was a great decision because I ate the entire plate and licked all the sauce off as well. I'm giving it high marks for the diner ambience, delicious food, and quick service. My only gripe would be that the parking lot is extremely small so expect to make some rounds before you're able to get situated! read more

Early Bird Diner - Shrimp and Grits - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Easily the best meal we ate in Charleston. We found it after a friend recommended we check the DDD website for ideas during our roadtrip. Service was on point, ambiance was everything you want in a sweet lil diner, and food was delicious and you could tell made with love! Plenty of vegetarian options on the menu, including a vegetarian gravy for biscuits, impossible sausage, even a couple of the specials for that day were vegetarian. read more

A great little diner with a pleasant atmosphere and friendly and efficient service. Daily specials are offered and desserts available~ just ask. As I was in the mood for an egg dish in the middle of the day and remembering that Early Bird has been "cracking eggs since 2008" they predictably hit the nail right on the head in my opinion. The menu consists of all the classic dishes for breakfast, big plates and sandwiches for brunch and lunch. They have a nice selection of sides too I might add...and for all you vegetarians out there they offer a vegetable plate and your choice of 4 - count 'em' - 4 sides!! Southern Harmony Iced Teas and King Bean coffee roasters are on tap to round out your meal. When do you see glass bottled root beer? Look no further, early Bird has it! Upon entering look up immediately at their chalkboards to see the daily specials. Have fun as Early Bird is a reliable and "down home" style place to sip, eat and enjoy. read more

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Go for the shrimp and grits. Everything else is just ok and a little overpriced, however I've done a shrimp and grits quest throughout Charleston and Early Bird is the winner. read more

What an amazing place , the pancakes are amazing, I had the country steak and eggs..great quality and flavor , our servers were great.. read more

Early Bird Diner - Diners Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina