Went for breakfast during my stay in Phoenix as it was well recommended by family and I did not leave disappointed. As my uncle said, if the place has wood paneling on the walls it's probably great. I had the country fried steak and I love that they give you the option to sub toast for biscuits at no extra charge! Food was delicious, filling, and a very generous portion! If it matters, I ordered a chocolate milk and they don't skimp on the chocolate. The place was absolutely packed so the noise was a bit to navigate around, a little hard to have a conversation in, but otherwise it felt very homey. Wait staff were very attentive and kind! read more

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

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Harlow's Cafe - Great Coffee, Expensive Potatoes, and a Slow Fall from Grace. There's something about a familiar breakfast joint that keeps you coming back. Maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's habit, or maybe you're just hoping the next visit will remind you why you liked the place in the first place. Our first visit of 2025 brought us back to Harlow's for a late breakfast. The wait was short, sitting outside in the shade was pleasant, and the coffee? Excellent! Hot, fresh, and constantly topped off. If there's one thing Harlow's knows how to do, it's keep a coffee cup full. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience wasn't quite as comforting. We were seated near the bar, close to the kitchen and the hallway leading to the restrooms. A busy, noisy little intersection where conversations compete with kitchen traffic. The front door was propped open, allowing an occasional cold breeze to remind us that breakfast apparently came with complimentary air conditioning. Then came the menu. Good grief! It's enormous, cluttered with words, themes, and enough information to keep you reading longer than some newspaper articles. And here's something parents should know: **NO KIDS MENU!** We ordered the Pancho for my grandson, figuring it was the closest thing to a children's breakfast. At over $15, it wasn't exactly a bargain. Substitutions were either unavailable or came with an additional charge. I ordered my usual country fried steak breakfast with country potatoes and sourdough toast. Nothing particularly memorable, but the coffee continued doing the heavy lifting. Fast-forward to November 2026. Another visit, another opportunity for Harlow's to win me over. Unfortunately, this time the bill made a stronger impression than the food. Twenty-two dollars for chicken fried steak sitting on a mountain of bland potatoes, buried beneath a waterfall of gravy, accompanied by overcooked eggs. That's right, $22 for a breakfast that seemed to substitute quantity for quality. Look, I understand food costs have increased. Labor, ingredients, utilities, everything costs more these days. But charging premium prices for ordinary food doesn't magically turn it into a premium dining experience. A mountain of flavorless potatoes and an ocean of gravy aren't substitutes for a properly prepared meal. And then there's the $4 cup of coffee. Now, I'll give credit where it's due. Harlow's still makes a great cup of coffee. But at four bucks a cup, even that little pleasure starts feeling less like a treat and more like another reminder that breakfast isn't what it used to be. The restroom report? A respectable **B on the Luis Scale**. Luis did mention that waiting in line to use the facilities isn't exactly enjoyable. I didn't inspect them myself, but perhaps making both restrooms available to anyone would help with the wait. Then again, considering some men's questionable ability to aim at a stationary target, perhaps that's a discussion best left for another day. The verdict? I've enjoyed visiting Harlow's over the years, and there's still something appealing about the place. But with each visit, it seems to slip a little further down my list of favorite breakfast spots. Good coffee can bring people through the door, but good food at a reasonable price is what keeps them coming back. At $22 for a disappointing chicken fried steak and another $4 for coffee, I'm beginning to wonder whether I'm paying for breakfast or helping finance the potato industry. As always, don't forget to tip your servers. They're working hard, and the menu prices aren't their doing. On to the next! read more

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I understand nostalgic reasons for going to a restaurant that is past it's time. This seems like one of those. We have a former work place group that tries new breakfast places every so often. We tried Harlows and were amazed to find dinner prices for breakfast. Charging $20 for Huevos Rancheros (no meat), $21 for a very average chorizo egg plate and $20 for a very average hamburger is charging uptown prices for a very old cramped place of business. Lucky that someone at the table found a flyer for "early bird" specials that we ordered from. One egg, one bacon and potatoes for $8.50. One in our part had pancakes. We felt we had escaped without breakig the bank but still hungry. Apologies to all you long time Tempe residents who know the owner and have been going there for ages, but I don't and won't. read more

Came to Harlow's Café for a business lunch - not my choice of restaurant establishment. I decided to order the potty mount with a lettuce wrapper to avoid any gluten or processed bread. It tasted all right, but was very greasy and heavy on the onions (that were not cooked enough). I did appreciate our servers attention to detail and making sure to accommodate my dietary requests. I just didn't love the quality of the food here. It was very greasy spoon which isn't my preference but they do seem to be loved by long time Patrons. read more

Harlow's Cafe - Patty Melt (lettuce wrap) with potato salad - Burgers Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Moved back to the Valley after being gone for almost 20 years. This used to be one of my husband's favorite places to take clients and he was excited to return and it did not disappoint! They were busy on a Sunday morning (got there at 10:30) but we were able to get two spots at the counter. Kendall took care of us and did a great job. In fact, I noticed the whole group of servers really had a team approach - filling up syrup cups for each other, grabbing a jelly or creamer for another - and everyone had a smile and positive attitude. I ordered the Sierra Omelette and it was delicious! Loved the spice and definitely got my protein intake for the day! The beef was super tender and tasty. I got a biscuit with it and it was good, a little dense (I prefer a flakier buttermilk style) but it was warm and had a good flavor. Hubby had bacon and eggs with a Blueberry Muffin. His bacon was cooked perfectly and his muffin was amazing! Not too sweet, moist, warm with just the right amount of blueberries. Sooooo good (yes, I stole a few bites!)!! Restaurant had that great diner feel, super clean, and the bathroom was well maintained. And I loved the table of cocktail napkins. Kendall told us the story behind them...order a cocktail and you'll find out. I wished we lived closer but the 40 minute drive will be worth it when we return! Oh...and the coffee was delicious. read more

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Went after Rockclimbing with my group of 6! Atmosphere very homey, food let's say "may have not been for my personal preference" No matter for others. I ordered a 'bean_cheese burrito, hash brown came with it. The burrito came 'cold with visual shredded cheese not melted. I never like sending food back but one of the group members took that on. Waiters very nice/Understanding. Note! If you go in a gruop of 6 or more they will not split the bill individually!!! The Atmosphere is definitely comfortable/chilled. I definitely recommend but not for me read more

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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Harlow's is a classic so many ASU morning after parties with endless stories on the night before. The staff is great. Mario is the best. For the people who writes 2 star reviews.... It's a breakfast joint. Give me a message when you can get into Kasama in Chicago lol read more

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

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

If you want to get robbed at breakfast; go to Harlows. A three egg omelet and tasteless undercooked homestyle hashbrowns is $20. I asked if they had sides of bacon and sausage; which were not listed on the menu. I got four slices of bacon, and two tiny sausage patties...I was charged $16 dollars for the sides alone. The waitress should have conveyed that they were a ridiculous price. A party of three and the bill was $89 dollars....for eggs, bread and potatoes? When I paid the bill they encouraged me to tip the waitress, which always do. I got taken for another $16. Please; I implore all who read this, look at the pricing before you dine there, and definitely question what they're charging you for. I will never eat there again...what a complete ripoff. read more

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

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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

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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

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The food was ok nothing special. The food wasn't seasoned. I also wouldn't call the hash browns hash browns. They are breakfast potato's. The ambiance was nice like your typical old school diner. However the prices were a bit outrageous. We saw steak and eggs for 29.99 and your most basic 2 egg 4 piece bacon 18.99. We also saw bean and cheese burrito for $15. Like really? I can't really justify spending that much on beans, cheese, tortilla. Very basic cheap ingredients. Chorizo and eggs was $21. We love supporting local businesses but this was just too expensive for just average. Harlows has increased its prices over the last four years. We know times are changing but there's not really much justification for the prices being this high especially the bean and cheese burrito (that was such a joke). We will find other places to support locally. read more

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

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

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My favorite breakfast spot in the Valley. It's a small restaurant but worth the wait!!

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

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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

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

Way too expensive for what you get. Bill was $100/2 people for mediocre food. Will pass next time. Only thing I will say is we had excellent service. 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

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Let me start off by saying that the staff was very friendly , however.... The food was absolutely (MID) I could go into that cook line and whip something up way more delicious. How in the world are you gonna charge me / 29.65 for a tiny bit of scrambled eggs, a decent amount of hash and bland hash browns & 2 pieces of white toast. I personally could recommend (for your $$ worth) 4 better breakfast culinary spots than this place. Not trying to be mean I'm just trying to be very transparently honest. 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

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

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I am a a transwoman. There are not a lot of places traditionally for someone like me. Harlow's Cafe has known me only as a person and has only ever treated me with respect and kindness. The owner is a lovely man, the staff are so lovely. If I never live another day, I will carry the memories of this amazing cafe with me. EDIT: How could I forget! THE FOOD IS ALL AMAZING!! read more

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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