This place is a must visit. Food is fabulous and service outstanding (love Amy). We ordered skillets. When we asked about certain dishes, Amy asked if we wanted to try before ordering. She went the extra mile Of course we took each recommendation and all was delishes. read more

OG breakfast spot on Jackson that has been serving patrons since 1923! Service and staff are amazing, bottomless cups of coffee, and really great food. Interior is as "Chicago" as it gets, with a warm and inviting ambiance Pro Tip: grab a seat at the counter and enjoy some great banter with the staff! This place is worth a visit! read more

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Extremely overrated. I had high hopes when I met my friend for breakfast at Lou Mitchell's on a weekday. There was a long line of people waiting to be seated and for me that is generally a good thing. Visually, I liked the look of the place as I like classic diners and old school restaurants. But when we were being seated my hopes dimmed a little. In the middel of the aisle between a row of booths was a line of two top tables squeezed in, the sides of the tables butting right up against the next table, creating one long table and people were seated opposite who they were dining with. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the space was clearly just too small to accomodate those tables. I cannot tell you how many times someone trying to squeeze by behind me when I was seated bumped my chair or the back of my head. The restaurant was clearing prioritizing volume. I forget what my friend ordered, but he had ordered decaf coffee and it came out cold. It was poured from nearly a full pot. I had ordered biscuits and gravy and a side of Greek sausage, as well as regular coffee. My coffee, poured from a pot about half full, was barely warm. Adding cream just about turned it into an iced coffee. Given the high volume of customers that they had there is absolutely no reason for cold coffee. When the food came out it looked good. I am a huge fan of biscuits and gravy and these looked good. But guess what? They were decidedly Meh. The gravy tasted like it was several days old and the bisucits were dry and not very warm. Okay, at least I had my Greek sausage to save the day. Nope. No saving the day from the loukaniko. Half of the pices were cold in the middle. I barely ate one buiscuit and half of the sausage. I did not take the rest home with me. I had long known of Lou Mitchell's and it took me years to finally make it over there do to odd work schedules and life getting in the way. I really, really, really wish I had kept pushing off visiting. Personally if someone offered me a free meal at Lou Mitchell's or said I had to pay for breakfast someplace else, I am grabbing my wallet and paying for breakfast. Online I see a lot of people suggesting to tourists that this is a must see place. When I have the time I join in the conversations and tell them this is a must flee place. read more

Lou Mitchell's has been around forever and for good reason! The food has always been excellent breakfast and comfort food, always delicious, homemade, quick, and in filling portions. Cinnamon rolls are a must-have! They are so fresh, you'll get yours right out of the oven as I had both of mine on this visit. They are that good!! My breakfast mate had an omelette, with bacon and something else, and the order was quite large, cook to order, and cooked perfectly. At my recent visit I ordered fresh squeezed grapefruit interest, and while it was very expensive, it was fresh squeezed and absolutely delicious, and I felt like I was at my parents' home in florida. I've never been here when it's not crowded, this time, we did not have to wait, but just plan that you might have to wait. It'll be well worth it. You'll either get a tiny two-person booth or something teeny bit bigger. You might be able to squeeze a 10-person breakfast party in here. If you can sit at the counter, that's always a great experience. I encourage that. Wait staff here is always very friendly, very attentive and professional! This recent visit was no different! Bathrooms are in the basement, so just be prepared for that if you are not super able-bodied. read more

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If you want a true, classic diner experience, this is it! I went for breakfast for my son on a Sunday morning. Highly recommend getting there no later than 9:30 as the line builds early though I will say it moves fast. We sat at the counter, which was a wonderful experience. Our waitress, Virginia, was lovely. She made sure we had what we needed and kept my coffee full without me even seeing her pour it! My son had the pancakes and I had eggs, bacon and potatoes with a side of raisin toast. I love that they give a donut hole as a mini appetizer and a quick bit of ice cream at the end. This place is truly magical and a must visit when in Chicago. read more

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There's almost nothing more Chicago than getting breakfast at Lou's. My family makes fun of me because I'm always talking about diners. I have a mug from the Golden Nugget that used to be on Irving Park right by I-90. I also now have a replacement Lou's mug after my original from 15 years ago fell and cracked in 2022. Diners are history. Lou's isn't 24 hours, but if you can find one (RIP Jeri's, but check Huck Finn's or the aforementioned Golden Nugget for the last of their kind) you can witness a part of life only a select few have. People who work graveyard shifts are a unique bunch. I did it for about three years until I decided I wanted a social life not dependent on meeting other third-shifers. Anyway, it's kind of a thing you have to do and experience to really understand. Imagine being in Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" painting and talking to those people. Imagine the stories they'd tell. Lining up out front may seem silly for a diner, but you must persevere. Upon entering, think of all those who have been before you. Take your time looking over the extensive menu over coffee. Order whatever looks good and for an hour or so, all will be well with the world and breakfast. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Heaters line the awnings to keep us warm while we wait. The friendly staff inside informed us to just wait in line and we will be seated as we worked our way inside. Maybe 20 minutes and we had a booth in the corner. Fresh orange slice and a donut hole to kick off the morning. Water was served up quickly and filled often. This landmark classic diner hit the spot on every cylinder. Quality fresh ingredients at every turn. Homemade marmalade and jams. Fresh baked bread. Fluffy eggs that were exactly that! Restroom is in the basement and was clean and well taken care of. The warm paneling and home grown kitchen table feel are what we needed. Thank you, and enjoy! read more

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Took the train to Chicago to catch a flight at O'Hare. Wanted breakfast and it was snowing so didn't want to walk too far. Lou Mitchell's is right by Union Station, is open early, and had an authentic old-school vibe. The restaurant was busy! I was seated at the bar right away but I had time to kill so I wouldn't have minded waiting. I had bags that they asked me to leave up front--I wasn't the only one. I got my coffee quickly--good diner coffee. And I got a complementary donut hole with a little orange slice. The bakery items sounded tempting even if judging by my neighbors' portions I knew I wouldn't have room. I had the Greek cheese special omelette which came with fried potatoes like my grandma used to make, sliced thin. They use Greek feta and it had veggies and real eggs, you could tell. I got a thick slice of toast on the side with butter and house made marmalade. Again, getting full was not a problem but I almost wanted more toast so I could have more of the marmalade. By the time I left there was a line out the door. And this is on a blustery January morning. Would visit again if traveling through Chicago. read more

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Visiting Lou Mitchell's will always be on my checklist if I am in Chicago before 8am. They have a vibe and hospitality there that is unmatched, their food is top 3 if not the best breakfast place I have ever had in my life. I recommend this establishment every chance I get for some amazing breakfast. read more

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SO GOOD! I love feta cheese and spinach so these ingredients in an omelette was ‍! The potatos were crispy, but rye bread was a tad bit too hard. Other than that, solid food and I loved the presentation in a pan! I came here in a hurry given the my initial train was delayed, but my next train was on time. Despite that, I was able to enjoy most of my meal because the food came out relatively quickly despite being very busy! It's quite a cramped space given that it is a diner right outside union statuon, so it a bit difficult to move around. Very solid experience overall read more

Lou Mitchell's - Spinach Special Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm very full after eating breakfast here. I ate nothing prior. It is a rainy foggy day out so I decided to walk over to finally dine here. I walked over the day before and there was literally a line out the door. It is the holiday season, so thus such. For locals like myself, who frequent walking past this street monthly, it is not always that busy. In terms of a line out the door. Yet it is usually busy in terms of the diner being decently packed. Anyway, today I got in, and surprisingly spacious area at the bar like area. Which is actually kind of cool, given its unique shape. Service here is quick and the tasty food served not long after either. It is very nice that they provided a powder doughnut hole with a slice of orange. The coffee is free refills which is great. The arrangement of condiments and other things at this bar area is nice too. Ambiance overall is great. Additionally at the end of my meal, they provided a small vanilla ice cream cup. Which was great. I didn't expect the doughnut hole, orange and ice cream ("free of charge"). That was nice. I ordered the Traditional eggs Benedict with a side of bacon and a cranberry juice cocktail. It was great. Overall tasty food and very filling. It has a nice old school look to the place too inside. I definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

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Despite the line we got seated very quickly. ervice was great, and my pecan bacon waffles were delicious! It's truly and old school diner still thriving in Chicago and I understand why it's holding strong. Absolutely worth going read more

Lou Mitchell's - Pecan bacon waffles with butter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So this is your classic Chicago dinner staple. This place will be packed son if you're going in the morning there will probably be a line. We got in fairly quickly and sat at the bar. My husband has childhood memories here and was dying to go. He raved about the oatmeal and how nice the staff were. The staff was very nice, funny and attentive. With so many people, they got your orders out fast with fresh hot food. All the classics were good nothing amazing nothing bad just a good hearty breakfast. Now the oatmeal, apparently it runs out. It did the first time that we went there. The second time I took him back to get it before we got on our train they had it. We both got a bowl, for me I wasn't really impressed. It was very thick, sticky, made with cream because it was super creamy, but I didn't get the hype on why it's sold out so if you're going there, I suggest there any other yummy food options skip the oatmeal ;) Other than that a great place to stop! read more

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Very steep pricing, had to wait a while. Our waitress was pretty confused but portions are large.

Better than ever: Spinach and feta omelette, fruit, home fries plus amazing coffee. Milk Duds are gone. If you have to wait then wait it's worth it. Plenty of staff is always around to make breakfast, brunch or lunch as fast as you'd like. Or you can linger a bit not too long if there is a waiting line. Before or after Amtrak or Metra arrival or departure Lou Mitchells is the place to be. read more

Wonderful historic restaurant with lots of charm and personality. Staff is so friendly and helpful. Food is incredibly delicious. They offer some unique dishes, for example salmon omelet and apple omelette. I'm a breakfast person and I don't come across these omelets often at all. Coffee is excellent. They offer a free ice cream at them of your meal, so that awesome. There's a lot of people but even if there's a line to be seated, the wait time is pretty fast. read more

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An excellent establishment and perhaps one of the greatest breakfast spots. Very lively staff and a great environment to be in. read more

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Save your time and money & do not come here. They sat us down within 10min but honestly the food was not good at all. We expected better reading the reviews but were extremely disappointed. I've had better breakfast. I ordered the waffles with wings, only got 2 wings, no chicken in them. My husband got some skillet, wasn't all that. Oh but the prices? Yeah... they were up there. Overall, as travelers, we've had better. Our server was nice though. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wonderful establishment. It is lively on a Friday morning for lunch! The service is excellent coffee cups are kept filled. Everything looked delicious. I would come here again if I am in the area. My waitress was really good her name was Marina. Give Marina a raise she is an excellent waitress!! read more

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Great and fast service. Great portions. Very filling. The scrambled eggs were fluffy. The donut holes I took to go. The orange marmalade was very good! Can't wait to bring my family here Oh and the coffee was very good I thought. Bathroom is downstairs. read more

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If you're ever in Chicago and craving a classic diner experience with a modern twist, Lou Mitchell,s is the place to be. LOCATED AT THE BEGINNING OF ROUTE 66, This spot is no secret -- but one that deserves all the attention it can get. Since opening in 1923 enough fresh eggs have been cracked made into omelettes, fresh orange juice squeezed, and serving many baked goods, so it must be doing something right!! The atmosphere hits that perfect balance of nostalgic and fresh and while the staff greet you with the kind of warmth that makes you feel right at home. The menu is full of comfort food favorites, but elevated. We had the two eggs with chicken sausage with a side of potatoes. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. You can tell this place is run by people who care about food and people in equal measure. Bottom line: Lou Mitchell's is more than just a diner -- it's an experience. Great food, great people, and great vibes. Whether you're a Chicago native or just passing through, this is one stop you won't regret. read more

Whenever I go to chicago, Lou Mitchells is my go to spot. I love the feeling of the old no frills diner rich in history. The Donut holes they give you are so so good! especially when hot. The coffee is not too bad either. If need something to order, can't go wrong with any of their soufle omlettes! The one bad thing is definitely parking; if you can get up and go early that is the best time to go. Also the pancakes were not the best kind of hit or miss but I still appreciate. Price point is decent we spent roughly $50 for two of us but keep in mind, my dishes contain no meat so a little less. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've never had corned beef before so this was a great first time. It's like a really beefy chunky mashed potato. Pretty good. It also came with 4 eggs so the price and portion of this food was excellent. The potato's were also cut in a unique way. I think the bread was baked I house - it was very good read more

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Awesome ! Quintessential Chicago diner with excellent food, fun staff, and great atmosphere. The food is outstanding. Went there with a colleague for breakfast. I had a wonderful chicken sausage skillet with delicious sausage gravy. Huge portion! My friend had the French toast special with ginormous slices of bread and fruit. Will definitely revisit when back in Chicago. read more

This place is THE best place in town for breakfast! The meals are affordable, and the portion sizes are VERY large. We split one breakfast entrée between the two of us, and still walked away stuffed. The omelet we had was the fluffiest and lightest we have had in our lives! (I'm not exaggerating) They were out of the hash browns, so we opted for the fries - and I must say, they were very addictive. The ambience is casual, and very much like a usual diner experience. read more

Waited around 10 minutes on a Saturday morning (line moves quick). Great place for an authentic old diner experience - the Benedict is a classic and done well. The coffee is okay, they also give you a donut hole and ice cream during the meal. The prices are slightly high for their portions. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went on a Wednesday, we wanted the patio because we brought doggy along. Only about a 5 minute wait! Cute spot, been there for 100 years. Service was quick. They brought us out doughnut holes to start. I got their Cobb salad. Very average. Nothing special, I wish everything was cut up a bit more. My bf got the Denver omelet and it was below average. It wasn't cooked well. He asked for well done potatoes and they were mushy. I won't be back/don't really understand the hype of this place. Maybe we got the wrong things. If you're in the area I would reccomend Stax or Meli for breakfast! read more

Lou Mitchell's - Hollywood Salad Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool brunch spot in the West Loop. The French toast was huge, fluffy and great. The hash browns were okay. The omelette was decent, a little too cheesy. The service was slow and the line is long but it does move. It's also a small restaurant so it's very loud in there as well. Overall, it's a cool place but not sure we'd be back so soon. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Grilled Thick French Toast Fresh Hash Brown Potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Old school diner, one of the first in downtown on Route 66. Great breakfast and hearty lunches. Really takes you back when you walk in, like a time capsule. It's a typical diner in downtown so you can get your American classic breakfast or lunch. Once you get in, they give you an orange slice with a donut hole. These are also homemade and they have a ton of homemade baked goods. Ordered a Rueben and it was served open faced with the biggest wedge fries. I wanted my 1000 island on the side and it was great! The prices aren't too bad for what you get, you'll absolutely have a take home box. It's a real treat to come to Lou Mitchell's because you really experience classic Chicago diners that still exist. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Rueben - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

yummy classic diner vibes! the apple cheese omelette was unique and SOO GOOD and fluffy!! loved the pancake stack as well. the marmalade and syrup (both house made) were delish!!! this place ate, no notes read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lou Mitchell's was a great stop that I'm glad I made while visiting Chicago. The ambiance inside is great, it's a typical diner but you can definitely feel that it has some history. The service was also great. I came at 9:45 so while I was seated immediately, I wasn't able to get any of the freebies I had read about. The food came out quickly after ordering and the star of the meal was the pancake and something I would highly recommend. I ordered the Chicken Sausage Omelette but I think I got the Chicken Sausage Omelette Hobo style which I didn't mind. The omelette was good but nothing special like the pancake. I would definitely recommend splitting an omelette because the portion size was massive. The meal was a little pricey but if you split something I think it makes it well worth it. Overall, I think Lou Mitchell's made for a quick, and tasty breakfast stop while in Chicago. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Chicken Sausage Hobo Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is a true gem! A true testament as to how they are alive and well for 100+ years. Happy we could go there for breakfast x 2 days. Seated quickly despite a line and seemingly full house! Everyone clicked like a well oiled engine. Food was excellent. Service TOP notch! Mickey was our waitress and she iced the cake on our experience ! Now we know where to have breakfast whenever we are in the area! Don't miss! read more

I love this place. It is quaint and cozy. I've eaten here three times during my two visits to Chicago. I would recommend either showing up early or planning to wait a little but I assure you it's worth it. I highly recommend. read more

I recently went to Lou Mitchell's after last being there probably about a decade or more ago. I thought that you were supposed to get orange juice and a donut hole upon arrival? (I think it used to be a cinnamon roll, but don't quote me on that). Never received it even though I saw other patrons who were given those items. Really long wait time to order, get food and check out. Service was average. Went on a weekday late morning and it was relatively busy. (They don't take reservations - FYI.) Food was ok, but pricey for what it is compared to other diners. I loved the place during my past visits, but this time was kind of a bummer. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Outdoor Sign - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Classic American diner style restaurant with tasty food in big portions. Family seating. Fantastic breakfast

Great place!! Foid is always good. Service is good. Its a dtap l e in Chicago abd it has its regulars.

If you are driving Route 66, it is a right of passage to eat here as part of your trip. The portions are generous. I had the BLT club and I had to take a to-go box with me. Get here early if you want a booth. The place was busy. read more

This is a classic Chicago diner spot. The food here is what you would expect from a typical diner which I love. The omelette was big and fluffy and the pancakes with chocolate chips were delicious. They also gave you an orange slice and a doughnut hole for free to start. We went here on a Saturday and my only issue is that there were a ton of people and it was extremely crowded. The tables are all very close to each other so you can hear everyone's conversations and it felt very claustrophobic. I think this ruined the experience a bit, but hoping I can return and have a better environment next time. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Omelette and pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lou Mitchell's is an institution. It has been around since 1923 and has always had a great reputation. I've been coming here for many years, and I've never been disappointed. This past Saturday (12/7/2024) I stopped in for breakfast with five family members who have never been, and I'm here to say it is as good as ever! We arrived around 9:00 a.m. (after a short walk from Union Station). There was a party or two in front of us, but we were seated within a few minutes. By the time we left...the line was out the door and stretched a good 50 feet down the block. There were six of us so I won't go through the entire line-up, but some of the highlights were: The Eggs Benedict, The Chocolate Chip Pancakes, and the truly unique and tasty Apple/Cheese Omelet. The homemade bread is phenomenal. Service is swift and professional. Prices are reasonable. I can't wait for my next visit. read more

Lou Mitchell's is considered a historical landmark of Chicago. They are celebrating 100 years in 2023! The restaurant is first come, first served basis. They do not take down names and expect you to wait in line to be seated. We did a walk-in for a group of 5 people and had to wait in a line that went outside the restaurant in the cold. We had part of our party stay in the car due to the cold weather. Note: they will not seat you if your entire party is not present. They have a pretty decent menu with lots of options. I ordered the smoked salmon benedict, which was served with potatoes. The food is pretty basic, standard diner breakfast. It was great to try, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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