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    Early Bird Diner

    4.4 (1.3k reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Early Bird Diner Photos

    Business Info

    EARLY BIRD DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Early Bird Diner

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    Chicken and waffles
    Kristine F.

    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.

    Marble rye toast - thick like Texas toast.
    Jennie D.

    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.

    Shrimp and grits
    Krysta R.

    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!

    French toast

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

    Omelette
    Amy D.

    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!

    Seyla T.

    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.

    Pecan Fried Chicken Tenders
    Matt B.

    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.

    Pork chop and scrambled eggs.

    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.

    Cool sign in the restaurant
    Doresa I.

    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.

    Chicken biscuit
    Jessica C.

    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!

    Counter area! Love the vibe!
    David G.

    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!

    The pancake
    Teddy W.

    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.

    Bar area
    Lucas A.

    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!

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    Ask the Community - Early Bird Diner

    How is the pot likker bowl? What does it taste like?

    I haven't tried it yet. Please let me know your opinion, if you try it.

    Is this place any good? My cousin Emily Key said it was.

    It's very good..... chicken & waffles a must try.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Millers All Day - Millers Plate with massive biscuit

    Millers All Day

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    4.8 miFrench Quarter
    $$

    I was part of a party of 3 that came here for breakfast on a Sunday a little after 9:30am. They do…read morenot have an online waitlist, so we had to go in-person and hope for the best with the wait. We were quoted about 25 minutes for the wait. The hostess took my phone number down and said she would text me to let me know when our table was ready. Since this location is in downtown Charleston, it was easy to wander around outside and keep ourselves entertained until I got the text that our table was about to be ready and we had 10 minutes to check in. Once I checked in, we were seated immediately and told to scan the QR code at the table to see the menu. A few minutes later, our server came by and asked if we wanted coffee or other drinks. After she came back with drinks, she took our order. I got the cornmeal pancakes. They are made of cornmeal so they had a different taste than what I was used to with pancakes. It wasn't a bad taste. They tasted like a combo of sweet, but also savory. They also felt very light so I didn't feel overstuffed after eating them. Because of how busy they are, they got us in and out in less than 40 minutes. There are signs at the table to not stay longer than 90 minutes, but this was no problem here. Just something to keep in mind to not hang around if you're done with your meal and you see a giant wait outside. As we were leaving, other people were being quoted about a 45+ minute wait. Since it's in downtown Charleston, there is no dedicated parking lot. However, there is street parking available nearby. As someone that cannot parallel park, I went the safe route and parked in a parking garage that was close by. I paid $4 for that. Overall, great breakfast place and quick service!

    We went to Millers All Day on a recommendation from our hotel concierge and Yelp…read more The place is very cute giving old school diner vibes! The food is good and service is a bit slow but nothing that stands out as an exceptional experience. My husband's biscuits and gravy did not come out of the kitchen until we were almost done eating what is pictured here.

    Photos
    Millers All Day - Coffee bar

    Coffee bar

    Millers All Day - Club Sandwich

    Club Sandwich

    Millers All Day - Cinnamon Roll

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    Cinnamon Roll

    Bedford Falls - Charleston - Patio with lunch and dessert

    Bedford Falls - Charleston

    4.4(135 reviews)
    4.4 miEastside

    A true hidden gem!! Best burger and fresh handout fries in…read moreCharleston!!! Fantastic service too!! Nick and Rossa are great bartenders!!! Love the vibe!!

    I hate giving bad reviews, but I will if I need to, however, this place is exceptional!…read more First it's got a super comfy vibe, think, "I've just walked into my aunt's backyard bbq with all of my family". Everyone just fits in, no matter if you're the black sheep! Seating is a little limited, but worth the wait. I guess the first person I ran into was a manager, he introduced himself, (legit, "Hi my name is Bryan" and shook my hand!) (Post Script, the handshake is pervasive here, literally both bartenders were introduced to me and both came up and shook my hand.) I had checked this place out from other Yelp reviews and already knew I wanted the Fish and Chips, so after my beer order, I was shocked and awed that without asking, he brought the Malt Vinegar! You know it's gonna be the bomb already! The fish arrived very quickly! Bruh...this fish was legit. A large solo iceberg of fried perfection crested upon a wave of fresh made "chips " and they were clearly fresh made, not the frozen variety. The beer batter on this fish was so good I was in heaven. I thought it might be heavy and greasy, and yet somehow it held only flavor, crunch, and absorbed my Malt Vinegar to perfection. This place is packed with regulars and it clearly seems to attract other service industries personnel. All good signs of a good time! This may have been my first visit, but won't be my last!

    Photos
    Bedford Falls - Charleston
    Bedford Falls - Charleston - Loaded Grilled Cheese - very tasty!

    Loaded Grilled Cheese - very tasty!

    Bedford Falls - Charleston - Bedford Benedict

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    Bedford Benedict

    Three Little Birds - Breakfast burrito add shrimp, side of fruit.

    Three Little Birds

    4.0(488 reviews)
    2.4 miWest Ashley
    $$

    Today was my very first time visiting this restaurant, and I have to say--I absolutely loved it!…read moreI've been wanting to try it for a while since I'm often nearby doing freelance makeup work at Wildcraft, and it did not disappoint. The food was fantastic, and the customer service was truly exceptional. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, sausage, and fried potatoes, and everything was cooked perfectly. I also treated myself to a slice of French toast on the side, which was absolutely delicious. I can't say enough good things about this charming little spot. I'll definitely be coming back again in the future!

    2-25-26 Wednesday 11:30 am…read more Cup French Onion Soup-no cheese or croutons Sweet Potato Benedict 1-Blueberry & Choc Chip Pancake Ala Carte Wow!!! What a great place to get a Benedict in the middle of the week!!! The restaurant is so CUTE!!! You know you're in for a treat, when you have to wait a few minutes to wait for a table-always a good sign in Charleston. Spoiler Alert-no alcoholic beverages. I yanked my back out and was looking forward to having a Bloody to go with my ibuprofen. Denied. I had the most delightful server, Caroline, who set me up for success with my order. I had selections in mind and she recommended them when I asked her what was good. The French Onion soup had an interesting seasoning profile that I could not place-but it was very good-no cheese or croutons, so maybe it should be onion soup instead. I loved the spin on the Benedict with a sweet potato roll, the eggs were perfectly over medium and the home fries were on time!!! I added one pancake to eat for dessert...totally get this if you love chocolate chips and blueberries, as both were generously added. Add the syrup as it would be like buying the ticket and not getting on the ride. I felt the charges were in line with other diners in the area. Whew! I need a nap now!!!

    Photos
    Three Little Birds - Back Bar with Specials Menu

    Back Bar with Specials Menu

    Three Little Birds - Nutella Peanut Butter French Toast

    Nutella Peanut Butter French Toast

    Three Little Birds - Fed vanilla latte

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    Fed vanilla latte

    Early Bird Diner - diners - Updated May 2026

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