There are places you eat at, and places that stitch themselves into your personal geography. Harlow's Cafe is the latter--and if you look closely while you're sipping your coffee, you can see the layers. My first visit to Harlow's was back in 1993--when Tempe still felt like a college town with rough edges and a pulse--this place went by another name: Mae West. The name change? That's a story best told over coffee and eggs, which is exactly how all good stories should be told. What never changed was the vibe: a room that quietly collected stories. You see it on the walls--old Hollywood glamour nodding to Mae West the actress, winking at you from another era, reminding you that Tempe once flirted with style and danger before developers discovered spreadsheets. And then there's the music. In the '90s and early 2000s, when the Tempe music scene was punching way above its weight, this place was part diner, part unofficial green room. Bands didn't just eat here--they held court. You'd find members of Gin Blossoms, The Refreshments, and a rotating cast of local music heroes sliding into booths, fueling up. No velvet ropes. No backstage passes. Just eggs, coffee, and the quiet understanding that everyone in the room was part of the same scene. You still feel it. The memorabilia isn't curated--it's accumulated. Earned. Like scars on a boxer. And through all of it--name changes, real estate pressure, ASU's corporate gravity well--Harlow's endured. We talked with the owners, John and Kimberly, about how Tempe's mom-and-pop joints have been steadily squeezed out by institutional money and chain logic. Harlow's survived not by scaling, but by belonging. Locals. Students. Musicians. Families. Same door, same welcome. You come here for chorizo and eggs that understand their purpose in life. For Belgian waffles that don't need reinvention. For breakfast that refuses to be ironic. But you stay because places like this are rare now--rooms where culture happened accidentally, not because someone branded it that way. Harlow's Cafe isn't just a great breakfast spot. It's a time capsule that still feeds you. A small, stubborn act of resistance. And proof that if you do the simple things right--and treat people like they matter--you just might outlast the wrecking ball. read more

Parking was a D Service was A+ our waitress was friendly and attentive Food was a B Ambiance was a B too small inside read more

This is one of those oldies but goodies cafe's that have endured the test of time. Not sure how long it's been in business but from the cliente it looks like a cult following. There are some long standing return customers. Everyone seems to agree the chorizo and eggs is the go to for breakfast. The eggs Benedict were pretty good. I can understand why customers become loyal. It's nice to see servers being friendly, attentive and performing as they should. The decor screams old Hollywood. Gene Harlow cafe. Makes sense. Thank you read more

See all

Very yummy and cute interior. Lowkey very very overpriced though. Literally now that I'm reflecting on it I don't think I'll ever come here again. Like why was breakfast for two girls $60 with tip? read more

Haven't been here in a long long time.. and this place hasn't changed at all.. Defin a local hole in the wall spot in Tempe. The food was good and the service was good could have been better but can't complain. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

"Harlows".... Yes it's centered around classic cinema, with wood paneling, classic movie posters & celebrity pictures as decor. Parking can be tough but don't give up. The food is delicious, service is awesome & coffee is hot n . Plenty of seating, booths, tables ,bar , you choose. The "early bird special" 8-11am was the best deal, as the menu is a tad expensive but I've heard the portions are large. I ordered the really bird egg muffin sandwich with hash browns it's very good, more homemade style. Hash browns are more like home potatoes (cubes with seasoning). I like it & you should too. Great job Eva; your service is exceptional, the smile is beautiful & your attention is spot on! read more

See all

This place is located on SW corner of University and Hardy, West of ASU. We stopped in to pickup food for brunch. The Reuben (see photo) was a great size for the price. And the meat was very well prepared. Potato salad was a healthy serving and very good as well. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Reuben - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Long time been on my list for breakfast spots to try. But I don't go out for breakfast often so this was a treat! Harlow's was delicious. Everything we ordered was yummy and quickly prepared. Service was great! It was busy on the weekend but our wait for a party of 3 wasn't very long. Maybe 10-15 mins at 10am. I'm sure if going earlier it would have been no wait. I called to see if they take a name on the list or rez, nope just waiting upon arrival. That wasn't surprising. It's a small breakfast restaurant with fun decor and still very mom and pop vibe. I'd definitely go back and try the creamed chipped beef on toast, as it's a speciality but they were sold out by 10am. read more

See all

I love Harlow's afraid to review because it will get even busier than it is . It's a great old school cafe without the greasy spoon food. The French toast is thick and soft the green pork chili is out of this world , the home fries are crispy and the coffee is simple . Reminds me of the diners growing up back east . I often will sit up at the counter if on my own and have met both the owners and the staff . Always so friendly and proud of what they do . But make sure you order a drink . They have a table of unique napkins and the server will choose one based on your personality or occasion. Love supporting small business read more

Harlow's Cafe - French toast with a side of green pork chili - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Love it here I love that it's hasn't changed in years, you know that saying if it's not broken don't fix it well this place is the definition of that food was amazing like if my mom made it bacon was crispy just they way I like it eggs scrambled not over cook like some places I have been too and the pancakes yum!!! Our server was good come every so often to check on us, my husband has been there before and he had her last time too and she recognized him quickly that a plus for us to be honest with you... I love the feel wood panels and autographs photos of different celebrities that have been there I loved it here we will definitely be back but in my car and not his bike lol read more

See all

Harlow's is a Tempe gem! Very good food served in generous portions. Fresh baked muffins are always a must! Great diner vibe with great service. Always busy, so plan for a short wait, but It'll be worth it! Bring cash and save a couple bucks on your bill. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Omelet Special - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

You know, my Uber driver told me I'd love this place and he was right. I was sitting at the counter and every single plate that came up looked PHENOMENAL. I got the chicken fried steak and it absolutely melted in my mouth. The biscuits were super light and fluffy. Tons of food for the price, I definitely ended up with two meals. It was packed when I got here and the servers were running and I didn't see anyone who wasn't still getting great service. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in the area. read more

Harlow's Cafe - chicken fried steak - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food portions were huge. I ordered a chorizo burrito. I also ordered a side of cottage cheese. Both were generous portions which makes up for the somewhat pricey menu. My husband ordered a two egg breakfast named after someone but I couldn't find it on the online menu. He said the bacon was really good. The potatoes were just potatoes. Eggs were cooked to his liking. I would definitely go again. Service was good and food was fast despite them being busy. It's an old school kind of place with old signs, photos and knickknacks. If that's your cup of tea, give them a try! read more

See all

Cute small cafe, nice and fast service with cafe style breakfast. The Breakfast burritos are a pretty good size that will leave you full. Coffee is good and their Ice Tea is delicious as well. Bisques and gravy were a bit disappointing. Bisques were a bit dry and hard around the edges and the gravy lacked flavor, it was pretty plain. But everything else was delicious and would definitely come back! read more

See all

Found this hole in the wall near our hotel. It is very clean and there was a short wait at 9:45 on Friday morning. The food is typical diner options with daily specials. When we visited a bacon ham and cheese omelet was on special with hashbrowns. The omelet was great, nice and fluffy and plenty of filling. The potato's were a little under seasoned but perfectly crisped and still fluffy. I ordered the ouevos ranchero with green chili and it was excellent. The green chili had a to. If flavor and it came with refried beans. Pile it all on the fresh hot tortilla and it was amazing. Apparently the muffins here are great but we went with biscuits that were very good. Only downside is the jelly options are just the little packets of grape or strawberry. Would have loved some fresh jam or apple butter. Overall, would recommend. Service was good and coffee was continually refreshed. read more

My experience at Harlows Cafe was completely sub-par and I will not be returning here. The server took far too much time getting food to our table (which I normally don't have a problem with) but not only was it cold, by the time it got to us, my eggs benedict had a solid yolk and my friend's country fried steak was more of a soggy fried steak. The server also took nearly 10 minutes to refill a soda -ten minutes after she grabbed the glass from our table. As someone who works in the service industry, I haven't encountered negligent service like this in a long time. The ambience of the restaurant was nice, but I was expecting more from a place that was proudly displaying so many awards on its wall. I recommend you check out many of the other breakfast restaurants around Tempe. read more

This place is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Tempe. I had the burrito special of the day. The chorizo burrito here is excellent! The prices are reasonable with generous portions. The staff is always friendly and attentive. Nothing like a good cup of dinner coffee, they will keep your coffee cup full. The vibe is casual and no frills. Definitely worth the wait to get a table. They have plenty of parking as well. Looking forward to going again. read more

See all

I'm not sure if it is, but this place looks like a little mom and pop restaurant very old-school inside. I felt like I was transported back in time. This restaurant has a little bit of a western vibe to it. I was immediately sat, it was very busy, but the server got to me immediately. Sadie was my server, and she was an absolute delight, super friendly without being over the top and very informative. I just ordered a bloody Mary and some hashbrowns, but they were very tasty nice and crunchy and the bloody Mary was one of the best ones I've ever had. I will definitely be coming back to check out the rest of the food. If you're a breakfast fan definitely come check it out. I'm not sure what the hostesses names were but they were also very pretty and very friendly. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Bloody Mary - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

first of all the Staff is always so friendly, but the owner/manager came to our table and talked to us about his resturant and how proud he was of what they do. And we agree it is consistently great. the food the service and the atmosphere . Keep it up and we will always be back for more. read more

As I always say I have never given a star review. If there could be just for service this would be the 5 star. The owner is awesome talked with me for about 5-10 mins off and on. We received muffins the PEACh Cream I think it is called completely worth buying and serving at home. Or giving to your customers. The omelette with sausage and cheese on point. My son got the eggs and sausage with pancakes. Look awesome. My wife's French Toast and she couldn't finish it was too much on her plate. I'm on a strict diet and asked for some strawberries instead of melon. She was great. We did a pick up order. Then went back on Sunday just because of the way I was treated. Again thanks for the service and muffins. read more

Somewhat pricey I though higher priced then what I am used to and I'm from Chicago! old dinner vibe feel. Friendly Service! Great for biscuits and gravy. They also have lunch menu. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Outside - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Fresh food, wide variety of breakfast and lunch to choose from. Friendly and great group of staff. I love supporting local businesses. If you go there, there's a good chance you'll be a regular. read more

This is a super cute diner in Tempe. I came here after golfing and really enjoyed this place. It has a very quaint feeling and the sever was great! She was very attentive. We shared a breakfast burrito. The sauce was delicious. The meat was tender too. I thought there would be eggs inside, so I think that would be a good addition. I loved the Harlows Coffee - it had an array of alcohol (Baileys, Kaluha, etc). The ratio of coffee to alcohol was perfect. I ordered it hot which was great and there was whipped cream too. I liked this drink a lot. There's also fresh OJ here! If I am around Tempe, I would come back here. I'd like to try their lunch next time. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

Love being greeted right away . Great open space . Very lad back and casual. Food was a solid ten. . Have been here years ago and was excited to come back . Enjoyed some tasty beverages as well. read more

See all

I knew it would be great when they brought me ice cold milk in a chilled glass! Breakfast was great!. Service was good and fast. Don't hesitate to come for breakfast!! Place was busy at 9 on a Friday morning! read more

I'm so glad that I came to this place. I am gluten intolerant and they were super accommodating to me. Not only that but the place has delicious food and local atmosphere that made me feel welcome and appreciated. In some ways, it reminded me of My Father's Place restaurant and bar in Portland, but the food at Harlow's is so much better. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Huevos rancheros with homemade salsa and corn tortillas! - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

The food is ALWAYS consistent and delicious. It is your classic American dinner with bar seating, booths, and tables. The service is always great as well. We have been regulars here for many years and have no plans to change. If you are going during busy hours like Sunday at 9am, expect to wait 15-25min. read more

I met a friend for breakfast here, and neither of us ever tried it. I'm sure glad we did though. It was very busy and we see why. The service was really fast and the food was very good. I ordered the sierra omelette which was an omelette topped with roast, beef and green chilies served with hash browns and delicious fluffy buttermilk biscuits. I'm torn about the decor and it could use some updating, but it also adds to the charm. Only downside is they can't split checks, but I would definitely return. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Biscuits - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

Favorite new breakfast spot! I was recommended Harlow's Café by a friend that is native of the Phoenix area. This Cafe has been around for 44 years and serves breakfast and lunch all day. I went on a Sunday around 10:30 AM and left a little after closing. I had a friend in town from Georgia and the staff was kind enough to let us stay a little longer. They even introduced us to their freshly made banana nut and blueberry muffins! The muffins were hot and and mouthwatering. I and still craving them today. I had the Cisco breakfast which consisted of French toast, bacon, and eggs over medium. My breakfast was cooked perfectly. My friend had the biscuits and gravy. He said that he also enjoyed his meal. Our waitress was amazing and never let our coffee cups run dry. The place was busy, but we never felt rushed to leave. There was plenty of parking, even on a Sunday. The cafe is simple and decorated with old autographed photos. It has plenty of seating, especially for large groups. Give Harlow's café a try on your next brunch outing. You will not be disappointed. read more

See all

I dunno even where to begin with this amazing place. Kimberly the owner first of all is so sweet and kind her husband as well greets people and just makes you feel welcomed. The spot is small and quaint, but it's perfect for what it is. Worth the wait if you have to wait for a seat. The staff are all so friendly too. The food oh the food. So good the chicken fried steak one of the best I have ever had. Their bloody Mary's are so delicious . I can't wait to come back again. Going to have to bring my dad when we come to visit his friend. Worth the drive to Tempe to eat here. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food at Harlow's taste amazing and you can tell they make everything with love. Customer service is always welcoming and friendly. They are a bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for with quality and big portions. And the ambiance feels like one big happy family that you're apart of! read more

We ordered the lunch special Philly cheese steak, albondigas soup. Service was prompt and friendly. The albondigas was ok. The meatballs obviously were commercially made. You can tell by the consistency (density) and lack of seasoning. Bought in a bag, not handmade. The soup itself was ok. Needed a bit more seasoning, but it wasn't bad. It can be difficult to get a good albondigas. The Philly was good. A good amount of meat, seemed fresh. Very pricey. Family-owned joint. I like supporting local businesses. What we ordered was good, but not great. Didn't knock my socks off. If we come back I'll try something different. Expect $15pp minimum read more

See all

Drove past a few times and the boss and I decided to try it. Great atmosphere and friendly faces right away! Our waitress was awesome and recommended a few choices, burgers being one of them, so we both got the duke burger. It. Was. Amazing!!! Huge portions and decent price for this economy. As we were checking out we met the actual owners and they were super nice! One of the owners gave us a parting gift for the office as well, which I hope the office can return the gesture soon! 10/10 will definitely be back! read more

Nice place off the beaten path to have a wholesome breakfast or lunch, haven't been here in over 5 years and the food is still consistent., my server Ava was accomendating with the order and made sure to correct any issues I had during my visit. It's a historical place dating back to the 80s and beyond that with the previous owners. Giving an old MGM movie era, old west ambiance vibe. I greatly enjoyed my visit today and will come back in the future. read more

Harlow's Cafe - OJ and water. - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

See all

Was told a 10-15 min wait which is fine, after 12 mins a group of 4 walked in after us and was sat immediately while we just stood by the front door. Horrible service! Not ever gonna eat here again read more

We came for breakfast. The service was friendly and helpful. This old time diner was worth the stop. The coffee and breakfast were hot. The movie scenery is fun to look at. The corn beef and has breakfast was a good choice. read more

See all

Harlow's Café isn't just a diner--it's a home away from home. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with genuine warmth and kindness that's hard to find these days. John and Kim, the wonderful owners, have poured so much love into this place, and you can feel it in everything--from the service to the food to the friendly, nostalgic American diner atmosphere. The food? Consistently amazing. Whether I'm there for a hearty breakfast, a cozy brunch with friends, or just sipping on a perfectly brewed cup of coffee (or maybe something a little stronger when the mood strikes), it always hits the spot. Every dish and drink feels like it was made with care, not just cooked. I love going to Harlow's. It's more than a meal--it's a little moment of joy in my day. If you're ever in Tempe and want great food served with kindness and heart, this is the spot. Truly a local gem that runs on love. read more

What a find! Breakfast was delicious and the vibe is really cool. Highly recommend I ordered the biscuits and gravy. The portion was huge and delicious read more

I love cafes! This gem has been here for over 40 years according to the owner. I came here with a friend today to enjoy some lunch and a chat. They're busy. This is definitely the place to come for some good cafe style food. The menu was chalk full of tasty options. They also have cocktails for those of you who like to have a special beverage with your meals. The breakfast items were super tempting but I saw a French Dip and I had to get it. That sandwich is my favorite and if it's on a menu, I have to try it. It was pretty darn good. It was piled high with quality roast beef and the au jus was spot on. The fries were a bit too firm and crisp but other than that, the meal was great. I also ordered some chili because I always have to try the chili everywhere I go as well. The chili was awesome. It was very meaty and full of spice and beans as well. Yum. The owner, the staff and everyone there was welcoming and helpful. When my to go containers were leaking, the owner jumped in and came to the rescue. In no time I was on my way. I'm very excited for my leftovers. I will definitely be back for more. read more

See all

What an institution! We love their breakfast. It's a small space and always packed but the staff knows how to take care of their customers.