Love coming here! Always busy but never wait too long for a seat at the counter. The staff are very friendly and cycle through customers with courtesy and ease. I don't know how they keep it all sorted! Impressive! The decor is cute and welcoming. The stools are very comfortable. The food is absolutely stellar, especially the pancakes! They are truly a special item and not your typical 'pancake'! They are soft, fluffy, nicely sweetened, and absolutely delicious! The steak and ham are also great. The bread is thick cut and also delicious and flavorful. Loved both the wheat and rye slices! I've recommended Ideal Diner to many friends and can't wait to bring more friends next time!! read more

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They run quite the operation here! Friendly service, and even with only 12? seats things work well. I had the breakfast burrito which was tasty. The hashbrowns were still crispy inside the tortilla which was awesome. The pancakes were thin and delicious. French toast looked great too! No ice in the water. I'll live, I guess. read more

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I've lived here for almost 30 years. Why am I just finding out about this place?! I live 5 minutes away. Came here and was blown away! The food is affordable and the portions are plentiful. I've now ate here three times in a week. The burgers are delicious, French toast and pancakes are amazing. Friendly staff too. The place is pretty small if you plan on dining in and usually a wait, but well worth it. read more

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This diner is such a gem of the Minneapolis area. The classes diner vibe is 100% felt in this cozy spot. The counter is always full of folks, and the staff does an excellent job of cycling through customers while also maintaining compassionate and warming care to those enjoying their meal. While waiting for a spot at the counter one can enjoy the ambiance of all walks of life in the diner as well as a nice cup of coffee/water! We make it a point to enjoy this diner every trip to Minneapolis!! And the food is absolutely incredible. Whether you are looking to enjoy some of the classic eggs, protein, and pancake breakfast. Or one of their rotating specials. You're are sure in for a delicious breakfast! read more

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Stopped by Ideal Diner this afternoon with my friends for the first time after seeing it for so many years. It's a pretty unique experience for Minneapolis. It's a very small old school diner with less than 15 seats at the bar. When we walked in around 12:30 on a Saturday it was busy but not overwhelming. There was no seat at the bar but there were seats in the window so they gave us the menu and took our order from there. Before our food was ready, space cleared up at the bar so they moved people down and the 4 of us got seats at the bar together. The food came out shortly after that and it was amazing. The corned beef hash was Classic, nice savory and salty with runny eggs and nice toast. The root beer float was awesome and also so cheap - I think like 3.50. Overall, the food is very solid and a really good classic meal and experience all for very reasonable prices. Highly recommend! read more

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Had to come try the pancakes! Not disappointed-could have been better with a little malt. Also tried the hash browns with a couple eggs and rye toast (Lazy Man). All were great-cooked to perfection and coffee just the way we like it. Staff very friendly. The place is incredibly clean -that's really important to us. Pleasant experience all around. read more

The best diner around. Tiny and amazing. I used to work walking distance from here. I need 85 total characters...

Have ate there off and on for more years then I can count food always good great little ole time dinner good food made to order right in front of you Take a page out of time and enjoy your visit read more

I'm apparently on a quest for my favorite pancakes in Minneapolis/St. Paul now. Ideal is an institution and gets a lot of press for their flapjacks and pastrami so we had to check it out. Classic, single counter diner with one short order cook rocking a big ol flat top and 6 orders at once. Highly recommend getting in early if you want a seat since they have a ton of regulars and it fills up fast. We got there at 6:30 and there were only a few stools left. The waiter was super friendly and prompt. The tiny space makes it convenient! You can also do takeout. The pancakes were the really buttery, lacy kind with the crispy edges from the burnt butter solids. Thin, but not dense or chewy. Crazy rich from the butter and putting some orange marmalade and a pinch of salt on top balanced it really well. They were soft but not fluffy by any means. It took 2 to fill me up vs the 1 from Our Kitchen. These were excellent for the style but, personally, I prefer the fluffy buttermilk ones. My wife got the corn beef hash and loved it. I'd definitely recommend them for anyone looking for an early breakfast spot. read more

Ideal Diner - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Service has always been friendly and polite. Ambiance is 1950's retro. Same for the food, with updates for Mexican. Almost everybody is a longtime regular, lots of seniors and neighborhood folks. It's like a blessed micro-vacation from the troubles of contemporary life. Warmly recommended. read more

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Small entertaining Diner. Around 12 padded barstools face the grill, far enough away from the heat, but close enough to enjoy the fast paced action of "Ideal Diner" Fun breakfast stop in Mpls. Burgers and Steak and Eggs included on the menu. Apple Pay not accepted. read more

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This place is amazing. My boyfriend and I came in with three other friends on a weekday. Parking is less than ideal... but was okay early on a weekday. There is only counter space and my friends told me don't sit until the woman working tells you to - she has a system. The menu is your traditional diner menu for breakfast but there are a few standout items. The pancakes... are just amazing, I don't know what's in there - which is shocking because they make everything right in front of you - but I couldn't stop eating them. They were so fluffy and delicious! The hashbrowns had the perfect amount of crisp and paired perfectly with the eggs and sausage. It was amazing how they could turn such a simple meal into something so dang good! Will definitely be back anytime I'm in the cities! read more

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!!! So if you are looking for a good old school diner and want to eat some great breakfast/brunch food then this is the place. The location is a bit small but worth the wait. The food has been delicious. I have tried the pancakes (which are huge btw), corned beef hash, omelets and more. All have been good. The best thing about this place is the feel of an old diner when you eat here. The place is a little run down but has a good worn look to it. This location unfortunately is about 45 mins away from where i live but i still try to make it out here a couple times a month. read more

Ideal Diner - Menu - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I lived in Northeast for 3 years and passed this place so many times without stopping in. I presumed it was good because it's a hole in the wall with only 14 seats. I moved about 20 minutes away and finally dined here. Needless to say, I missed out on 3 years of having arguably the best pancakes I've ever had in Minnesota. I could literally eat here everyday without getting tired of it. I normally order the Working Man which is 2 eggs, hash browns, choice of ham, bacon or sausage, toast and jelly but I sun a pancake for toast. Be prepared for a wait on the weekends and use the restroom prior because they don't have one. I will go out of my way to get me some Ideal Diner! read more

Ideal Diner - The Working Man -2 eggs, hash browns, sausage, sub pancake for toast (pancake not pictured) - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This feels like the set of a Cohen brothers movie wherein your character gets to have the best, biggest breakfast ever. there is a Midwest charm to the atmosphere and it's so cozy and small. read more

The food was tasty & plentiful. I brought home 1/2 my order of Hashbrowns under cheesey eggs with tomato, onion, green pepper, mushrooms and Bacon! I added one (large) pancake. This place had 14 stools. The cook, Chris, operates like a machine. He's quick, efficient, doesn't burn anything(!), and is often cooking about 4 or 5 orders at once on his grill. Fluid motions loading pancake batter or heaps of hash brown's over oil, eggs, omelets, burgers. It's amazing to watch. He's been cooking here for years. When you walk in the door the waitress hands you a menu telling you to order first then you wait to be seated. I ordered the weekend special. The waitress, Marie, was a pro as well. She kept up to 15 or 18 people in order, in her mind. When it was finally your turn she would direct you to your stool. I had a nice hot coffee while I waited for my seat. She filled coffees, took orders, cashed out peoples checks, bussed dishes, wiped the counter, visited with customers on occasion. There was such a good vibe there. Toward one end of the counter is the dishwasher. He was constantly bending over washing & rinsing dishes. He was stacking supplies & helping clean the counter. My food was so good. Well cooked with hearty portions. The ambiance was lively conversations, friendly staff and the best part was the hometown feel of the place. A really great place to have all day breakfast and so much more. Tator tots done to perfection. Bring your patience because it's always busy. You may wait 30-45 minutes for a stool. Your food will be delivered piping hot & cooked to perfection. Very reasonably priced! Bring friends you want to feed good old diner food. read more

I've lived in Northeast my entire life and finally made it to Ideal this morning for breakfast. I'm so mad I've been missing out this entire time! It was honestly the best breakfast I've ever had. The portions are pretty big, so come hungry or split it with someone else. I split the Nordeast Omelette, some hashbrowns, and a pancake with my mom. Everything was SO TASTY. I came in with two others and we were lucky to grab a spot at the counter on a holiday Monday. The inside is quintessential diner. And there aren't very many counter spots. Our server let us know that weekends are incredibly busy with a 1-2 hour wait. Holiday weekdays are busier than normal. But if you wanna swing in and be seated right away, a regular ol' weekday is best. Our server was amazing! So kind and our waters and coffee were never close to empty. Food took awhile, but there was one person making literally everything. 1,000% worth the wait. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Great food! Loved watching the cook's placement of all the orders on the grill, maximizing the cooking surface!! read more

Ideal Diner - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I've tried several "hole in the wall" diners around town, and this one just didn't quite measure up to some of my favorites as I expected it to do. For one, they don't optimize service. There are plenty of seats and space in the counter windows for people to eat their meals, but they have you wait and only serve you at the counter. Therefore, you're waiting an excessive amount of time to get service because there is only about 12-15 counter seats max, so don't go here with a group. The staff is all very nice and friendly and seem to enjoy their job, but it's just not worth it to wait in this cramp space. My food was ok, but nothing spectacular, and frankly, I found my pancakes a bit undercooked. Perhaps they are rushing because they are busy, but it just wasn't worth the time waiting. The presentation of the food and the quality of the food was just not there during my visit. read more

Ideal Diner - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This was a throwback to an old school diner of past long gone. It's small and colorful with a small long counter with the old school round stools and the grill right in front of you. My server was very friendly so when I saw chili on the breakfast menu I asked if they could make me a slinger and they didn't know what it was because it's a St Louis thing. I explain it's crispy hash browns topped with sausage patties, eggs, chili and cheeses which they made me with no problem. It was nice to have a slinger again and it hit the spot. read more

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Ideal Diner offers patrons a very simple and classic diner experience. It's super small and narrow with maybe 10-12 counter seats. We arrived closer to 8:30 and sat down within 10 min, but folks coming when we left had about an hour wait. I like that you can watch the cook work his magic on the flattop. He's really good! And his food is even better. The pancake was no ordinary pancake... it had a slight crisp on the edges and tasted SO good. Can't explain it - just give it a try! Their hash browns are also divine. Best part? It's so cheap. A single large pancake was $2. Hard to beat that! FYI there's no bathroom - the closest one is about 2 blocks away. read more

Ideal Diner - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Food was amazing. The place is an authentic diner and runs like a well oiled machine. I had the Reuben with hash browns (soooooo good) and my husband had the working man's bfast. Highly recommend if you want a little nostalgia with your meal! read more

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Great little diner right outside downtown. Stopped here with a coworker on our way to the courthouse and super glad we did. Plentiful free parking, portions are large and the food was fantastic. Waiter and server were both very pleasant and welcoming, will be coming back. read more

Ideal Diner - Eggs Benedict and pancake - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Back on a stool at the Ideal Diner after an eight year hiatus. I gave this place five stars back then and I'm reaffirming that rating today. What a gem. As with all top reviews, one worries that the accolades will likely drive new customers to give it a try, contributing to a crush of diner regular's. Can't help that. Only 14 stools. No booths or tables. Be prepared. They get an A+ for friendliness, service, and customer attention. And you can ask for a 'half order' of the best crispy hash browns east of the Mississippi River. I paired mine with a cheeseburger/fried onions and I was simply in grill heaven. I live in a western suburb and you may say, geez, that's a long way to drive for a cheeseburger. Maybe, maybe not. Give it a try. Then you decide. read more

Had a stout breakfast in this classic small diner. A family business. Easy parking. Small but good.

THE BEST!!!! teenie tiny little spot so there will always be a wait but the food is amazing.

Looks like a local staple diner. Easy parking. Very limited seatings but fast turnaround, thanks to chef ordinaire "Connor". What he's him cook those orders with dropped jaw. Never in million years I can ever do that. I had the corned beef hash. It's one of the best I've had. Ideal diner made their own corned beef. It is cooked perfectly in a fluffy crispy bed of Hashbrown with some burnt ends. Perfection! Eggs are cooked perfectly runny just the way I like it. It's one of those place you want to keep a secret...but I'm feeling super generous with tummy fulled of deliciousness read more

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This nostalgic, retro-style diner has been around since 1949 and is one of the only places in the area that serves breakfast all day. We happened upon this place midday on a Wednesday, and it was packed--for good reason. I had the hash browns, which were crispy and golden, and oh my gosh... the pancakes were the best I've ever had. They're kind of crepe-like: thin and slightly crispy at the edges. My colleague had eggs with biscuits and gravy, which were equally delicious. The atmosphere, friendly and attentive service, combined with delicious food, is a winning combination. Their pride shows in everything they do. If you're ever in the area, this place is a must-visit for a delicious meal. Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. read more

Ideal Diner - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

There are no booths, just counters with tall stools. If you can't stand for more than five minutes go somewhere else. If you have problems withbalancing in stools this is also not the place for you. read more

Delicious and fascinating to watch! They know what they're doing there! Got the ideal burger and it was 10/10

Consistently great food, service and reasonable prices. Been here several times since moving to the area. Everything I have tried is very good. The Nordeast omelette is amazing! read more

Now this is the Ideal Diner! They have a basic breakfast menu, but WOW this place knows how to do breakfast. We ordered the Working Man and the Lazy Man as our meals and it was the perfect amount of food with the best flavor. This place is the perfect place to come and sit and enjoy an amazing breakfast. It gets fairly packed and a lot of people order takeout here. Most of the customers are regulars and the owner/cook ask about their families which is so nice to see. If you're looking for a place that does breakfast, perfect - This is the spot!! read more

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It's like the platonic ideal of a diner. Great food, great service, cozy as fuck. And their hashbrowns are literally to die for.

Very few true diners left in big cities. This place is a gem limited seating maybe 20 seats along the counter and windows makes for a great atmosphere. This was my first time and felt like a friend to all by the time I left. Coffee is hot and fresh and there's plenty to choose from on the menu. I went with the country fried steak meal came with two eggs crispy hash browns and side of toast. One things for certain you won't leave hungry or with a light wallet prices I'm sure of can't be beat by any other place in the twin cities. For the quality of food/service it's a steal! Loved everything about this place couldn't have had a better first experience. read more

Ideal Diner - a woman walking down the sidewalk - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Sort of the diner where everybody knows your name. Great hash browns. Watching the griddle guy manage fourteen orders is mesmerizing. The coffee is as it was back in the 70's - no muss, no fuss. read more

We came in around 1045 on a Tuesday morning. We were able to immediately get a seat at the small bar. The coffee was great. I got a breakfast of sausage, eggs and toast. Husband got the chicken fried steak. The CFS was served on top of an amazing pile of hashbrowns which were delish. The inside was filled with regulars which I aspire to be. Prices were great. Food was great. Inside was so cute. read more

Ideal Diner - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fabulous food and exceptional customer service! The people who work there are so friendly. They make everyone feel special AND the food 'yummy' read more

Let's do the time warp again! Love this counter only diner experience. I wouldn't bring a friend, just too long to wait, which I see lots of you happily doing! But, for me, just go yourself, you'll get a stool fast, and I've never not had a good conversation with my counter mates. Food is excellent. Price is fair. And cannot say enough about the hardest working staff in the business. Y'all are impressive to watch! Ideal Diner IS a Five star experience. read more

My friend and I had breakfast at Ideal Diner this morning when we visited Minneapolis for Memorial Day weekend! I had the Polish Man (2 eggs, Polish sausage, hash browns, marble rye toast, and jelly), and she had the Working Man (2 eggs, hash browns, bacon, wheat toast, and jelly). Both were good, but I like crispy hash browns, and Ideal Diner's are pretty raw and loose except for a thin crust that's crispy. But I though the rest was great - perfectly cooked over easy eggs, buttered rye, delicious Polish sausage. The service was great (friendly service, constant coffee refills), and the atmosphere is wonderful (it's a tiny, retro diner with 14 bar seats and a few other seats for waiting for a spot at the bar). Since it's so tiny, I recommend getting there early (we got there around 9 am on a Monday holiday, and we waited about 15 minutes for seats; but they serve you coffee and take your order while you wait for a seat, which is nice). Plenty of parking in a lot nearby. Such a classic spot, and a great spot for a casual breakfast. read more

I had breakfast here on Indigenous Peoples Day. Though busy, we got a seat at the counter right away but waited a bit for our food. Worth the wait and worth every penny! The pancakes here are outrageous! Servings are huge so I split the Nordeaster omelette with my daughter. The crowd was eclectic. Everyone was here. They have customer service down! Coffee is served while you wait for your seat at the counter. The young girl who served us said wait times in Fri, Sat and Sun are up to 2 hours. They are only open for breakfast and lunch. read more

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