John's used to be the go to place for breakfast and lunch in our neighborhood but it's sadly gone downhill. John was always cranky but it was just part of the charm. Lately though, he's just been downright rude which I could deal with if the quality of the food was the same but unfortunately it has also declined. I'm gutted because I loved going there. I think it's time for him to retire. read more

Always good for a close-in and classic diner experience. Breakfast is a must, but lunch is also classic.

Food is always spectacular, and I love the long-time tradition of John's. However, don't expect to be impressed by the service, especially from the long-time cashier. She is generally bitter and in a foul mood, and i can't remember the last time I saw her smile at a customer. I'll keep coming back, but she's a downer. read more

Brought my mom out for Mother's Day brunch. Yeah, it's a little late but better late than never, right?! John's is located in an old strip plaza. Definitely the hole in the wall, mom and pop feel. The outside is a little misleading. Gyro advertisements are pictured on the outside windows, which threw off the breakfast feel I saw in the Yelp photos. But don't let that deter you! John's is a small little rectangular layout. The touches seem very homy with fresh flowers on each table and standard diner condiment caddies. You'll have to place your order with the cashier, who might be John himself​, before you sit down. Options are galore, but you won't fail with a combo like the pancake combo! Comes with your​ choice of eggs, bacon or sausages and a short stack. The pancakes were like a dense sponge. Don't think of that as horrible, but think of it as substance with a little sweetness. While I chatted with John, I asked what he orders. His exact words were, "I always order, all the time, the Philly cheesesteak​ omelet​e" served with hashbrowns and biscuits; watch my slow-mo video of this monster! Let's just say I could see "always ordering [this], all the time" too! The coffee was fresh. It tasted like the depiction​ of a Folger's​ coffee commercial! Customer service was stellar and the food was awesome. I'll be sure to check out more items on the menu next time around, like the Gyro lol. read more

Hot coffee, large portions, and everything cooked to perfection. I had the breakfast special. The biscuits are fluffy and melt in your mouth! They give you 2 and I took the other one home because 1 was plenty. I wasn't going to let it go to waste! Pancakes are fluffy and huge! This is my new favorite diner! read more

John's Cafe - Mouth watering biscuit! - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I am a greasy spoon aficionado. I've been to diners all over America and John's has to be one of the best I've ever been to. I got the pancake special. It comes with 2 pancakes, choice of meat, and 2 eggs. I'm a vegetarian and won't eat the meat. They were very accommodating and let me sub hash browns for the meat. I appreciate that a lot as many places won't do that. The pancakes were perfect. They were crispy on the outside and fully cooked in the middle. They had great flavor and really didn't even need any syrup. The eggs were perfectly scrambled, not runny or overcooked. But the hash browns were the best part. They're really more like home fries. It was a perfect blend of crispy versus soft. I highly recommend this place. read more

Food was amazing! Everything was perfect. Bacon, pancakes, and the biscuits were all insanely good. Best all-around breakfast in a while.

As visitors to Dallas we needed somewhere to go have a quick breakfast before we started our activities. We were disappointed we loved the atmosphere of the place it has an old school feel. The menu was straight and to the point and didnt have a million items on the menu which made it easy to order. When you come in you order at the counter then pick a seat which is cool you also have to get your own silverware. The food prices are very affordable and Its not a place with a lot of bells and whispers but its a great place. The food we ordered came out nice and hot and it was very good we also loved the fact we didnt have someone coming by asking us was everything alright. Its not a large place which is also a good thing. We just loved everything about the old school luncheon feel read more

Loved the place, very homey, food was very good. The portions will have you full just right so you can finish your day. Everyone was nice.

Really enjoyed breakfast on Saturday, stopped by and ordered a to-go breakfast special on my way home from a bike ride. The place was packed before 9am and quite a few seemed like regulars. I found the service to be very friendly and prompt, if it's the owner who takes your order, he's great! No nonsense but what do you expect in a place as busy as they are. That suits me just fine! The portions were huge, I have leftovers for at least 2 more meals. I will definitely be coming back! read more

I had their breakfast special. I like the new ordering process provided you can find a table. The Breakfast Special Eggs, Pancakes, Sausage, Bacon, Toast, and Hashbrowns were all decent but nothing that stands out telling me to show up tomorrow for breakfast. I would hope this John's cafe recognizes that there are pastry shops with better coffee and tastier items down the street. The clientele will slowly migrate to these places as their palate changes towards more tastier foods for the money. My coffee was filled up when I asked and the staff is a bit gruff. The bacon was plain and salty and the hashbrowns were a bit greasy. Eggs were fine. The lack of love feeling towards the restaurant and the food is well defined when you have to pick up your plastic forks and water near the register. It is time for them to step up their game as we need good cafe breakfast restaurants. I was a bit embarrassed taking Grandma here which shouldn't be for a Cafe. read more

Everything you'd hope for in a small, local diner. Great coffee and breakfast options.

This is one of those "locals hang out here" joints. Family owned, home style cooking. Walk in, order at the counter, grab your own coffee and silverware. The only table service you will receive is with the delivery of your food. I love family owned dives, and, this certainly is one. They serve breakfast and lunch only, so, they close at 1500. I have only dined here for breakfast, and, I gotta tell you, I've had better. Eggs and bacon are spot on as is the toast. The hashbrowns are bland, and, not fried enough. I like more crisp. Having said that, I've certainly had worse breakfasts. They have a decent enough menu with a decent enough breakfast special. I tried their biscuits and gravy, and, was left disappointed. No sausage gravy, only cream. WTF? Seriously, if you're gonna offer biscuits and gravy, you damn sure better offer up some sausage gravy! The staff are very friendly (they're the owners, so why wouldn't they be?). They attract a decent crowd, and, I really feel comfortable when I'm here. The place is clean, and, service is with a smile. Even though it's not my favorite breakfast spot, I'll go back. Sometimes I prefer just having my food without the annoyance of wait staff. read more

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John's Cafe stole my heart with a unique kindness and attention to their customers you rarely see and a delicious veggie omelette (with fresh jalapeños from the owner's garden). I was greeted with a big smile and lots of energy at the register when I placed my order! "It's my first time." I said, "What should I get?" "Everything here is good." replied (a man who I assume is) John warmly. A customer sitting at the bar beside the register confirmed "Everything here is fresh - look at the lemons from his garden." I looked... Attached to a branch with a leaf were two of the biggest lemons I have ever seen near the register. "I have a big garden!" replied John. Reuben, the waiter, knew everyone by name. The place appeared to be full of regulars & I can see why! I like the vibe of this place... Warm, welcoming, friendly, and caring! I will be back to sit and drink my coffee and enjoy the people watching, the energetic sounds of the kitchen, and a delicious breakfast! read more

John's Cafe - Everything here is good! Especially the vibe! - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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It's good and portions are great. It's priced higher than I'm used to for a breakfast special but the service could be better.

This is a hidden gem, a hole in the wall if you will. Located near the popular lower Greenville, this is probably a 5 minute walk to steel city pops. My buddies and I came here for breakfast, and was glad that this place was the most affordable and local. They serve pancakes which were delicious, eggs, ham, toast, and any breakfast combination you can think of. They also serve burgers and fries as well. We went a little after 11, so we missed the $6.99 breakfast special (which I wish I got) but everything here is some good American breakfast. Not too much to complain about because the wait wasn't too long, but it does get busy in here! These folks are doing it right! read more

John's Cafe - Sausage and egg breakfast around $10 - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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So delicious home cooked breakfasts!! And there was no long wait even on a Sunday. The friendly staff and comfortable atmosphere is a perfect family spot. read more

My only complaint about this place is that I felt like I was crashing a private party. Everybody knew one another. But, obviously, lots of regulars is always a good thing. Food-wise my eggs were perfect. The lady working the counter (the owners daughter, I think) was very pleasant. There's nothing extraordinary about this place, but overall I'd recommend it and I'll probably go back if I'm in the area. read more

John's Cafe - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I just moved to the area & wanted to find a nice breakfast spot to try. My uncle suggested we go to John's. I wanted to order Migas but they didn't have the items to make the sauce so I opted for 2 scrambled eggs, ham, wheat toast & hash browns, which were DELICIOUS! My uncle ordered the gyro omelette, which was also delicious & I will probably order that the next time. In my opinion, John's is a place to get a home-cooked meal for breakfast & lunch. I will definitely be back & work my way through the whole menu ! I recommend John's to anyone who enjoys good food & who doesn't enjoy good food? read more

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Some of our favorite restaurants, like Dixie House and Black Eyed Pea, that featured the home-cooked style meals that we longed for have been closed. So, we tried John's Cafe and got the kind of meal we were craving for. It's a smaller and more intimate setting, and you order your food at the counter and take a seat. The lunch specials were very reasonably priced and included a salad and Texas toast. The food is delivered to your table. I got the open-faced roast beef sandwich with gravy, real mashed potatoes, and corn. It was delicious and almost too much too eat in one meal (but I did!). They also have home made desserts, including baklava, but I was stuffed and passed on those. I'm definitely coming back when I need my down home cooking fix! read more

Awesome take out - hot fresh food for you and your family - they have almost everything you could want for lunch or breakfast!! It is reasonably priced and they are super friendly. Help support a small business!! I had the Gyro and Fries for lunch - I ordered Onion rings for my afternoon snack and they might not last that long. John's is definitely a winner and on my list of go to's. Parking is easy. read more

This precious family run diner is the cutest spot in lower Greenville! You walk in to order at the counter, the owner is at the register taking orders, you sit down and are taken care by the friendliest staff. The food was AMAZING! I personally love crispy bacon, and I saw a Yelp post the bacon cheese and egg omelet so I had to try it and holy cow!! best omelet I've had. My husband got ham cheese and egg and we shared a side of French toast because that's a must for brunch... we probably cleared our plates faster than we ever had for breakfast! Thanks for the experience and food whenever I'm in the mood for an omelet, I'll be here. A little side story I was happy my husband shared with me....While we waited for our food we just happened to be in a booth with an article framed on the wall about how the locals fought for the restaurant to stay open when the landlord was closing it down. Little things like that are a perfect reason why I love diners! read more

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Mom & Pa place! In business for ever! Locals love it!Food is amazing !Parking! Biscuits&Gravy! What else could you need!! read more

John's Cafe - Breakfast Special with gravy and jalapeños - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I ordered takeout today for lunch. The gyro lunch plate completely hit the spot. You will never be disappointed in this neighborhood gem! It's not just a great breakfast place but also great for lunch!! read more

Decent breakfast, personally wasn't a fan of the coffee but if your looking for a simple diner style breakfast plate the special they have will do the trick. The atmosphere is very inviting, you can tell they have a lot of regulars that come in. read more

John's Cafe - The special - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Lived in the area 4 years now. The breakfast is average at best for a diner. Eggs are inconsistent, hash browns are subpar, and the bacon is just whatever. There's always a line on the weekend because there's no other breakfast place close by. The only thing really worth it is the breakfast special getting there before 11am. Also, the lady at the counter should be in the kitchen, she's the least welcoming person in the place. All the 5 stars are far to generous. read more

Nice little restaurant with some great huevos rancheros. Can't wait to come back and knock some other menu items off the list. read more

John's Cafe - Diners Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Giving John's 5 stars is a disservice to John's, because it deserves 6 stars. Best breakfast and lunch in Dallas, hands down. The migas are sooooo good. The hashbrowns are perfectly homemade, the biscuits are super soft, and I could go on and on. John's is not fancy, but it has the best food in town. My wife even agrees! If you come once, with an open mind, you will become a regular. It's just that good. read more

I love John's. We eat breakfast there every Friday morning. Food is so wonderfully consistent... AND DELICIOUS. John is so friendly, remembers our order as we walk in the door ....has my Diet Coke in a to-go cup ready before I get to counter. Great to see neighborhood regulars every Friday ! Lunches are very good too but nothing beats the MickeyMouse pancake breakfast read more

Too many good reviews but the woman at the counter lookedtired and mad. The cheeseburguer was just ok and the fries just forgettable. Pricing is not that different from better restaurants and parking is a pain. Will suggest you to skip all the good reviews. Overrated for sure. read more

Is this the same diner that used to be in Richardson, TEXAS? If so, I used to eat there almost every day with several friends; we all worked for AT&T at the time. Would someone let me know? It has GREAT food, lots of choices, also! read more

My husband and I eat at John's Café ("Just 'good food' since 1972") almost every morning, and it always gets our day off to a good start. In addition to the posted specials, John will fix you just about anything you want, as long as he has the ingredients on hand, and literally everything that comes out of the kitchen is stellar. I especially recommend the huevos rancheros, migas, and French toast. Tell John it's your birthday, and he'll make you a festive birthday pancake on the house! Lunch at John's is equally delicious, but what really makes John's Café special is John himself. He knows virtually everyone's name, their children's names, and even their grandchildren's names. John's brother Dino joined the staff a few years ago, while his daughter Georgia literally grew up at the original John's location on Lower Greenville, across from the Blue Goose, and now womans the cash register. Meanwhile, a 3rd generation is also growing up at John's. John's has a colorful crew of regulars and semi-regulars, most of whom eventually get to know one another at least enough to say hello and chat awhile, but newcomers are always welcomed and made to feel equally at home. Pretty soon you'll find yourself circling the restaurant with a pot of coffee and a pitcher of milk to refill everyone's mugs, just like an old hand. When John's is at its busiest, there may be a brief wait, but don't feel you need to hold out for a booth. The community tables are home to some of the liveliest, most interesting, and oftentimes funniest conversations in town. You may even find yourself sitting next to former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, who lives in the neighborhood. So eat at John's Café, and be sure to try the gyro! read more

Had breakfast at John's Cafe today. My wife and I both got the breakfast special; eggs, bacon, hash browns, and a biscuit. The food was excellent and a good value. My eggs were over medium and were cooked just right; as were my wife's scrambled eggs. The bacon was crispy just like we ordered and the biscuit was fresh & definitely made at the Cafe; it was very good. The hash browns were very good; not as crispy as I would have liked but they were still very good. I would recommend this restaurant if you are in the area. We will definitely come back the next time we are in the area. read more

I was living in Dallas for two years, and I went here almost every weekend. This is my fav breakfast joint in the city! Anytime I visit Dallas I go back. John, his daughter and all the staff are so kind and feel like family. They always get my eggs right!! Which is harder than it sounds - and I LIVE on their sweet tea. This place is small town feel nestled in the city. If it ever closes, Dallas will never be the same. While breakfast is my game there - I have tried the burger and a few other things - nothing has EVER disappointed. read more

My parents see the smallest places and drag us there for us all to find out how impressive or not the place is. This morning we met at John's. I got the pancakes, the rest of the family all got the breakfast special. For 5 hungry M.'s we spent around $40. Not too bad for the $$ and the food was pretty dang good!! It is on the smaller side and even though we got there at 9 it wasn't very crowded, the crowd started rolling in around 9:30.. I don't know if there's early church that just let out and everyone came a running for their chow, but it started to get a little claustrophobic. Pluses: Good Food, fast service, pretty cheap, and little free bible entries at the door. Minuses: Kinda small, confusing with the coffee etc, and little free bible entries at the door. read more

There's only one way to descrbe John's Cafe, and it's OH BABY! I can't believe that I have lived in Dallas for the majority of my life, and have just discovered this place! It's a small place, and very symmetrical, with a row of booths down each wall and tables in the middle. It was a very comfortable place, everyone seemed to be talking to everyone. From the ut fan that got his dates wrong, while trying to talk crap to me and my OU shirt, to the owner coming out several times to deliver food and ask how everyone was doing. Great customer service all around. I had the standard breakfast special, eggs, bacon, hash browns and bisquits. The eggs were cooked just like i asked and tasted great, perfect runny middle. The bacon's flavor almost over powered every greasy thing on my plate, and it wasn't too crispy or too chewy, it was right in the middle, loved it. The hash browns weren't your typical hash browns, they were definetly NOT uniformed. They were crispy on the outside, and deliciously warm and soft on the inside, amazing flavor as well. On to the main attraction, the bisquits. By far and away, these are the greatest bisquits, that I have ever put into my mouth, and the gravy on the side, once again, OH BABY. They were close to a dinner roll, but still had the texture of a bisquit on the outside. The inside was so warm and moist, and they stuck to the roof of your mouth. Can't say enough about those bisquits. The whole place was great, very fairly priced, and we have our eye on several other menu items, so we'll be back soon. They have Roast Beef, Gyros, Fried Catfish....I may move in. read more

Rude AF cashier lady; no hello, no smile, harried, no thank you, cheerless- with no one else in line. Daddy likely gave her that register job- she wouldn't make it anywhere else with that dour attitude. Took 20 min for eggs to come out. Toast was good. read more

totally uninspired cafe from the '60's Food a parody of what was the only thing around at the time If factory eggs and coffee from the lowest bidder float your boat it's authentic, limited only by John's vision, which was on survival. Denny's without the budget and without Denny. Unchanged in 40 years read more

John's Cafe is the very definition of a diner. Linoleum flooring, booths, stacks of jam on the tables. I have a bit of a tradition when I'm in Dallas, whether it's TX/OU weekend, a friend's wedding, or just a big party that I don't want to miss: a buddy of mine and I get up first thing Saturday morning and head out for a diner breakfast. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and endless cups of black coffee. It's the perfect way to line your stomach for a big day of football or St. Patty's revelry. I have several coffee mugs I've bought along the way at various diners, and I'd love to get my hands on one from John's with all the local advertisers displayed, but alas, they won't sell you one. I guess it makes sense; I'm sure the advertisers paid a fair bit to get a spot on the mug, and what good would it do if they just sold them off to the winds. But I promise, I'll make sure everyone who has coffee in my home patronizes the advertised businesses if you'll just sell me one. Anyway, John's Cafe is a fairly small place, so you may have to wait a bit on busy mornings. Or maybe next time you won't be so lazy sleeping in and you'll get there earlier. Regardless, with the line cooks grilling up goodness in the back of a small joint, you may emerge with your shirt redolent of hash browns. And you can't put a price on that. Unless you could bottle it and sell it as cologne. I'd call it Hash (tm). read more

Sometimes when you are hungover you don't want to go all fancy for brunch. You want something greasy and quick to ease your pain and help you slip into a restorative coma when you get home. Feeling inspired by this type of hangover, I chose John's Cafe for our breakfast outing on Monday morning. The place is small and non-descript which is to be expected when you are located in a strip of storefronts next to the CVS. The place was pretty busy and I found all the chatter and people to be distracting when I was trying to figure out how this ordering process went (now THAT'S hungover!!). You basically walk straight ahead to the counter and order up there. I have to admit, I do not like this setup. You are standing in the middle of the other tables staring at the menu...while people behind you try and get around you if you aren't ready to order and while the lady behind the counter stares at you like she wants you to hurry the fuck up already. Sooooo I felt uncomfortable and didn't peruse all of my options. I just got the breakfast special and a coffee. And at $5.65 for the food it was a pretty good deal. Or was it $5.95? Either way, economical!! Once you order and pay you can go and find a seat. We got the first booth right beside the front door. This wasn't the most primo location since it is serve yourself coffee that is located all the way across the room in front of the line of people trying to order. Sliiiightly inconvenient. So we waited and eventually they will call out your number and you just raise your hand so he sees you and he will bring your order out. It was John himself serving the food and although I thought from across the room he looked a little intimidating and surly, he actually was super nice and friendly when he brought the food out!! So food - bacon was perfectly crispy. The BF almost pouted when he dropped a piece of it ("Aw man, it was the crispy part too! Waaah!"). The eggs were perfectly over easy and tasted gooood once you salt and peppered them up. Hashbrowns were blah - a little too thick, a little undercooked for my taste. The biscuits were YUMMERS and they gave you TWO of them. I loved these biscuits - I couldn't finish both at breakfast but the BF and I both wrapped our extra one up and brought it home to eat later. Overall very solid diner food! I want to come back and try a gyro since he's Greek and all he probably knows how to make it delicious! As for the setup, I don't like the get it yourself coffee and silverware. I also don't like how there are no servers so there are no drink refills or anything like that (well, maybe there are but I was too hungover to fight my way up to the counter to find out). However, I understand that it saves $$ to not have waitresses so I can dig it and I'm definitely not hating. I will just remember next time to order coffee AND a water AND a diet coke just so I'm sure I have enough to drink!! read more