This hipster joint on the edge of the gentrifying Humboldt Park--which unfortunately does not lean into its name when it comes to the décor (come on guys! Disclosure day is imminent!)--packs in some solid flavors with a dash of condescension. A companion and I had two "Trucker Bowls" here recently, and boy did mine fill up my 18 wheeler! Trying just this incredibly savory, breakfast-staple bonanza of a dish may be a worth a trip if you are already "out West," even if the service almost certainly isn't--I had trouble telling if our waiter was just doing the alt-punk not-giving-a-$*!+ shtick or whether he was genuinely annoyed by my preppy-sweatered, raising-a-hand-to-get-his-attention (in any empty restaurant!) presence. In any case, there's no need to take umbrage at a patron for just trying to order a drink. Prices are a bit north of what I'd expect at this location. read more

The food at Flying Saucer was pretty good, especially if you're vegan, since they have some great options. However, after reading other reviews, it seems that many customers share the same concern: the customer service could be improved. If the business wants to continue growing and attracting more customers, focusing on better service would make a big difference. One issue I had was being refused a second straw due to their eco-friendly policy. While I completely understand and respect the effort to reduce waste, it felt a bit excessive considering how much plastic is still used in many other aspects of the business. A single extra straw isn't likely to have a major environmental impact, and a little flexibility for customers would be appreciated. Overall, the food was enjoyable, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for vegan-friendly options. The customer service, however, could use some improvement to match the quality of the food. read more

A group of friends and myself went to the flying saucer this past weekend. As a lacto- vegetarian, they were very accommodating to my request. They were able to make my pancakes without eggs, while keeping regular whipped cream and butter. The seasonal blueberry flavored pancakes were lickworthy and quite memorable. I also tried the saucer BST sandwich (made vegan) on rye with a side of tots- filling and delicious. It's pretty affordable, but it is cash only! read more

Flying Saucer - Saucer BST on rye (made vegan) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Flying Saucer never disappoints. Ordered Trucker Bowl on this visit. It was delicious and a ton of food. Love the vibe and the friendly staff. read more

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Good vibe, friendly staff. Lots of variety including vegan options. It was a lovely afternoon to sit outside and they have plenty of shade. Food was pretty tasty. Nice local cafe. read more

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Such a cute place! Loved the diner feel & cool decor. It's a little loud inside. Bustling & good vibes though. My oatmilk latte was perfect. Breakfast burrito with vegan chorizo was huge & so flavorful. Pico & sour cream on the side. Tots were yummy. My husband got the quiche & loved it. The staff were all so friendly & cooler than cool. Can't wait to try more of the large menu. read more

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I live around the corner from Flying Saucer so it's truly a staple for me. It's always packed and the service is immaculate. In fact, you can't really go more than 5 mins without a coffee refill, a check-up, etc. The Flying Saucer team is absolutely a well oiled machine. Whenever I'm there I will more likely than not order the quiche, which always has a rotation of flavors, on my last visit, which was this morning, the quiche was broccoli cheddar and as always was light, airy, and complete with a flaky crust. I also ordered the breakfast sampler today which came with a ton of food (eggs, a meat (bacon), a side (spiced apples), pancakes, and toast. All of this was $17 which is super affordable. Saucer also has really good cuban coffee! Vibes inside are warm, cozy and the conversations in this space are everywhere around you. It's just a very neighborhoody type of place and I love diners and this is one of the best! A great start to any morning, but just a couple things to know: they close at like 3, so great for breakfast, brunch or lunch, and they are cash-only but there's an ATM inside. Also there's a brand new alcoholic drink menu, with some cocktails I can't wait to try! read more

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Very much so not kid friendly, they have a sign outside that says leave your strollers and segways outside, obviously reasonable, but that's just the start. We went there super pumped for VEGAN breakfast options! So something we love. We brought our almost 4 year old, while I was up getting Cash from an ATM my partner was with our son, the waiter asked my son to take his shoes off, not my partner but my almost 4 year old. Cue the tears. But we rallied, and after my son cried for feeling like he was being scolded by some rando, we moved him from the bench because we figured the shoes were only not allowed on the bench, an un cushioned bench... so later he puts his foot on the chair to get grab his food, the waiter runs over says to my son, "take your shoes off". So I said "I'll ask him to". Then he and I took our shoes off. While it seems simple it was just ridiculous. Like you're driving us away by 1) not being kind about the ask 2) what a bizarre request. The chairs were already tattered and ripped and the bench was nothing special. I understand wanting to keep things nice, but put a sign up, make everyone take their shoes off (unsanitary). Anyway vegan options were great. read more

Flying Saucer - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my 1st time at the Flying Saucer, and I enjoyed it. It is a cozy neighborhood spot with good food, and the service was friendly and inviting. Everything on the menu looked good, but I opted for the Flying Breakfast Bowl with Chicken Sausage and a Cuban Coffee. Do not be thrown off by the size of the Cuban Coffee - it's small but mighty. It packed a punch and gave me the caffeine fix I needed. Though the Flying Breakfast Bowl was very protein-rich, it didn't feel like a heavy dish at all. Adding the chicken sausage provided the perfect amount of sweetness. I've never had a better corn tortilla. I'm typically a flour tortilla girl, and honestly, these corn tortillas made me rethink my love for flour ones. They were fresh and paired well with the dish. It is important to note that the establishment is cash-only, so plan accordingly. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad read more

Flying Saucer - Cuban Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was really good! There are a lot of great options for vegetarians and vegans and they have a a wide variety of foods to choose from. Service was really fast and everyone was really really kind. It is cash only so make sure to bring some! read more

Flying Saucer - Chilaquiles Breakfast sampler - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A Humboldt Park staple, staff is very friendly. Food is great and ingredients can be substituted for meat free options. This restaurant is cash only FYI read more

I'll start by saying the service was great and really fast, and the matcha was good according to my partner, but I got the breakfast sandwich and it was unremarkable. The bread was hardly toasted or buttered, and it felt like something I could make better at home and pay significantly less. My partner got the trucker bowl and said it was good but not amazing, but a good portion of food. If I come back it'll just be to get drinks. read more

Food's decent with some veggie options. Mainly I'm leaving this review to add to all the others about rude the service can be. Yes, we went maybe 4 times--We'd go here because my wife would get her haircut a block away so it was convenient and we wanted to like it. Service was kinda/sorta not friendly on 2 of the first 3 visits. I'll spare you the details but the last server was a total piece of work. All different servers on these visits so it must be prerequisite to work there. read more

Told server I can't eat garlic or onion. Omelette came with garlic in the spinach. Server was very sorry and attentive and got the dish re-fired. Came back still full of garlic. Didn't care this time but did tell me they'd comp the dish. Check came and it was not comped and other server argued that the dish came with any garlic and had to be remade. Don't come here if you have allergies or food restrictions. They don't care. Besides that food was fine. But service, and the garlic, left a literal bad taste in my mouth. read more

Extremely inhospitable and rude service. The food is just okay, and honestly, if the staff got out of their own way it would be a decent neighborhood breakfast spot, but the way the staff is trained to interact with the customers will have you feeling like you just want to leave. Food-wise, got the breakfast burrito, it was fine. Cash Only is a bit inconvenient but they have an ATM in the dining room. read more

Cute breakfast spot. Had the corned beef hash skillet with over easy eggs & a hot tea. The corned beef had cheese on it. Which was a nice touch. The had a biscuit and gravy kicker that was a nice touch. Would go back. read more

Flying Saucer - Corned Beef Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For me, this is the perfect spot to get breakfast or brunch if you are a certain kind of person. Lots of good egg dishes, vegetarian modification for everything, ability to get a biscuit and gravy on the side. The only things I would change are it would be nice to have a fancier spicy or hot sauce and I think the breakfast burrito would be good with some kind of fried potato in it. read more

My new favorite breakfast spot! I love that they have plenty of vegan options since I am plant based and have an egg allergy. I can always either go fully vegan or sub the eggs for what I need. The wait usually isn't too crazy and the servers are always really nice. I love going with my whole family to catch up and relax on the weekends. It's small but not too tight in there which gives it a cozy vibe. I always get the breakfast sampler plate with vegan mini pancakes and eggs and a cafe con leche. I'm never disappointed. read more

Flying Saucer - Breakfast sampler with vegan eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was really good. I got the trucker bowl which was very hardy. The staff were friendly and service was quick. We sat outside on a beautiful fall day. read more

Flying Saucer - Trucker bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this neighborhood spot. Tucked away in California Ave this is a perfect breakfast spot for one or brunch for friends and family. Excellent food. The corned beef sando was great and the chicken salad on a a croissant was A++. The trucker bowl was delicious as well and a good size. The service was friendly and attentive. Def stop by. I plan to make this a regular spot. read more

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Delicious food with vast vegan options! The coffee is pretty good too. Breakfast burrito and vegan pancakes are fluffy and yummy! Staff is super nice. The fact that Jesus is their mascot is kind of messed up when you think about it - it's a highly Latinx neighborhood and you're going to make a huge majority of that populations religion a joke? Reconsider. read more

Flying Saucer - Breakfast burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have heard great things about Flying Saucer and was excited to try it. I am giving it two stars, because they do have a ton of vegan options, which I really appreciated. However, here are the reasons I was not impressed. 1. The service was just rude. When we came in, it felt like we were bothering them. Four times someone (either two or three different servers) offered to take drink orders, but every time we said can we put in a food order for the child with us (kids need to eat fast usually), each person said they couldn't take our food order. So you can't take an order for pancakes, but you can't send someone who can? Or you can ask us repeatedly about drinks and not that? It just didn't make sense. It took at least 15 minutes, probably more than 20, to be able to place the food order for the child. 2. While they wouldn't take our son's food order, they did come talk to him about something else. While we were waiting, he and an adult were sitting next to the window on the plain wooden bench side of the table. It is not cushioned or anything, just raw wood. His legs don't reach the floor, so he was sitting with his legs crossed. A waiter came over and told him to either take off his shoes or to put his legs out-- speaking to him directly, us not even being able to hear fully, and quite rudely. This really bothered me for a few reasons. First, if there is an issue, you should speak to the parents, not to a 5 year old. This was not a kid running around, yelling, stomping his feet, or anything like that. He was sitting with his legs crossed. If you wanted him to sit differently, you could have asked the parents instead of getting down next to him and speaking to him. I had to ask him what was said to him! So you can't take an order for pancakes, but you can tell a kid how to sit. It was just really inappropriate. And no, I do not want him taking off his shoes inside a restaurant. If the restaurant had such a problem with him sitting with his legs crossed, we would have switched him to a chair or lap, but they should never have spoken to him directly like that, nor should they have made him feel like he did something wrong. He did not. Also, plenty of adults were sitting that way when I looked around. 3. The food quality just was not very good. Like I said, we were really happy to have vegan options. However, the food totally lacked seasoning. The kale scramble was undercooked. The portions were fairly small. We had to dose everything in hot sauce. We are always looking for breakfast places with vegan options, but we will not be back. I would have tried again and not left a review at all, but speaking to a 5 year old that way was really not ok. read more

The best accidental breakfast find! Love this place. The food...the vibe...the service. We will be back with friends. Places like this are the best finds in our mixed diet household. Almost everything here is available to be made vegan. read more

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Classic breakfast spot, be prepared for a little bit of a wait during peak hours, bring cash, always a good meal.

Nothing Gold Can Stay. My favorite Green Goddess dressing doesn't taste the same. (This will make me get out the food processor and make my own however.) Tastes like buttermilk which I despise. And the fabulous black bean cakes are no longer offered? And the service has gotten so much slower, busy Sunday notwithstanding. I shouldn't have to hold my cash up for five minutes for someone to bring my check over and pay! This longtime customer is very sad as there is little to bring me back. read more

Delicious vegan food that was fresh and filling. I'll definitely go there on future trips to Chicago.

Cash only - tasty eats - good for a stop when passing through but make sure you have money - breakfast was good

This place has the diner classics, coffee that keeps flowing, and vegan/vegetarian options which makes it a hit! The service is always super friendly and fast. It's a great neighborhood staple where you can easily become a regular but still have unique menu options thanks to rotating specials. Heads up: they are cash only, but they do have an ATM inside! read more

Flying Saucer - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I stopped by here for lunch when we were in the area this past summer. They have a great selection for vegans/vegetarians, so I was pretty stoked, being a vegetarian and all. I opted for their BLT with a side salad, while my friend opted for a meaty sandwich with a side of sauteed kale. We both liked our meal, and I was pleased with how light my meal was. This place is cash only, though they also have an ATM in house. I believe that they're only open for breakfast and lunch, also. read more

I've gone here a few times with friends and family, and it's a solid breakfast/brunch option. The staff are generally pretty nice and the service is solid. Food-wise, I really appreciate that they accommodate many dietary restrictions. It's pretty hard to find a place that can meet the needs of a gluten free person, and also a vegan person. This is part of my reason for the 4 stars, it's a big plus. The interior is really cute, and in the summer they have a nice outdoor area on the patio as well. My grievance is that the food is only ok. Nothing I've had has been very flavorful and has just generally been fine, not great. I'll likely go back again since it's such a versatile spot to bring people with different food preferences/allergies, and hopefully I'll find something I love next time. read more

This place was great. Lots of vegan options. Great ambience. No-bullshit service. Will definitely be back.

Best vegan pancakes I've ever had! Super cute interior, very friendly staff, fast service, and a menu with something for everyone. I especially appreciate the amount of vegan options, from JUST egg to vegan meat substitutes, vegan cheese, etc. Coffee is great and the staff are constantly on the lookout to refill your cup! The fresh OJ is also delicious, as are the spiced apples I sometimes order on the side. Cash only, but they have at ATM. There is usually street parking nearby (free or metered, depending), but there was one day I went that was particularly busy, so I parked farther away and had to wait about 30 mins for a table, which was fine as the diner is located in a nice neighborhood to walk around in and kill time. Highly recommend. read more

I've been coming here consistently for years and have never had anything less than a great experience. This is one of my favorite casual spots to bring people who are visiting from out of town. Down to earth local spot that always delivers. Cash only. ATM inside. It is NOT BYOB (possibly the only area that has room for improvement, but it's fine) read more

In town visiting friends that live here in Chicago. I am from California I had the grass fed burger and stator tots The buffer was great and so was the service. Nice atmosphere. Great service and food. read more

I live on haddon and walk to this restaurant regularly. I love the friendly staff as well as all the accommodating vegan options. The breakfast sampler is my favorite breakfast dish to order and the salads are amazing. The different lemonades are really refreshing as well. Kudos to this lovely neighborhood staple! read more

Flying Saucer - My sister and I enjoying breakfast while she was in. Town for cali - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been a few times and the food was okay , but nothing special. First time I tried the reuben and it was more bread than corned beef and that was a bummer. They have pictures on the wall one of George W. Bush with a Hitler mustache and that was kinda offensive, but what was even more offensive was they also keep a picture of Farrakhan on their wall who I view as a complete jag-bag. 3 stars is generous. Bunch of weirdo's in Flying Saucer. read more

The food was decent, but the staff and ambience were quit offensive. As a Jewish woman, the framed picture of George Bush with Hitler's nazi mustache was distasteful and insulting. I'd also like to say that my girlfriend and I were mean-mugged by one of the workers.. for what I haven't a clue. Otherwise place seems.. fine. Nothing special. I could go somewhere else- eat just as good for the same amount- and not be irritated. read more

Lots of vegan options, all of them tasty. Best vegan pancakes in Chicago. Our new go-to breakfast place. Cash only restaurant.

They have plenty of vegan options. Excellent fluffy vegan pancakes. Cash only but they have an atm.

Favorite neighborhood spot - simple but tasty food, great music always, and the best people. We love it!!