What would you do? We arrived at 8:30 am on a Friday morning. (They supposedly open at 8) The neon "Open" sign was lit. The door was locked. No sign of anyone inside. My wife says "what if something terrible happened inside". I'm thinking we should call 911. Just as I'm calling, a huge Cadillac Escalade pulls up next to us. A big guy jumps out and pulls a couple of cases of produce out. He looks at us and proceeds to the door and unlocks it. I'm assuming he is the manager or owner. My wife says. It would have been nice if he acknowledged we were sitting here, maybe an "I'm sorry". We decide not to go in. So much for the great reviews about how the owner chats with customers and the great customer service. I suspect based on the car he's driving he can open when he wants to and won't mIss our business. read more

The country skillet and pancakes were so amazing. The service was great, they are super nice and quick! Will be coming back with more friends!!! I would post a picture if anything was left read more

Mannys is awesome! The place is super small which may be the only downfall but the breakfast I've ordered has always been great! It can be a long wait because it is pretty small in there but if you go at a not busy time I am sure you will really enjoy your experience! read more

What a gem! My wife and I stopped off for breakfast, and it hit the spot. My wife got chilaquiles, and I got the chicken and waffles. The chicken was not just tenders fried and thrown on a waffle. No, it was a juicy piece of chicken on a crispy waffle. I gobbled that up quickly. My wife's chilaquiles were also spectacular--an outstanding balance of spice, flavor, and textures. So the food was great and the service was lovely as well. Everyone we interacted with was a delight and it was also fun to hear a little singing from the kitchen. I doubt I'll ever be in the area again but if I am I'm eating here again. read more

This is my new favorite breakfast diner with a Mexican flair and will probably be my favorite lunch diner once I go back for that. This diner is small and one the end of a strip mall but it large in flavor, freshness, and by far hospitality. Manny cooks your food from scratch on every order. He buys his product every day because cares about every dish being fresh. He also comes out to check on his guests to get feedback which is a lost practice by most. After speaking with Manny, I found out that he also caters all styles of food specifically to his customers needs. I'm glad I found this gem of a diner and will certainly be back!! read more

Awesome breakfast and the service could not have been better and more polite,cozy inside too.

I have had breakfast/brunch/lunch at Manny's several times, it is always fresh and delicious. Nice people. A few times we sat outside in the shade in front when it was nice weather. The place is out of the way, a hidden gem...but don't keep it a secret! Hopefully they will expand their indoor dining area soon. read more

This is the tiniest place I've eaten, but worth the wait for a table! Service is fast, so it's never too long. Very friendly, efficient service. And the food is delicious! The homemade jam is a must-have!! It's incredible on toast or English muffins. The orange juice is fresh squeezed. Portions are generous. Honestly, every dish we've tried was great! A hidden gem for sure!! read more

This spot is the real deal! Super friendly staff and Manny came out himself to check how everything was. I was in town for training and saw the cafe as I was driving in. I'm a breakfast joint kinda guy and Manny's hit the spot. I went with the Country skillet and it didn't disappoint. The gravy had great flavor and was the perfect addition to the rest of the skillet. Highly recommended! read more

Delicious food, their lattes are to die for. yes !!!!! Get here early or be ready to wait seating is limited.

A RARE GEM FOUND! Manny's is an unpretentious cafe with limited seating and a steady stream of takeout customers. Located in a small strip mall on the west side of Gary Ave. and just north of North Ave., you will find Manny (a graduate of our College of DuPage Hospitality's program) an experienced chef and owner. Myself along with my son and his girlfriend (who own/operate a cafe on Ft. Meyers Beach FL) were all impressed with the delicious taste, wonderful presentations and friendly service Manny and his staff created! Give yourself a treat and try someplace new! Manny's - Dine in, carry out, delivery, and catering available, Tues.-Sun., 8:30a -2 p. facebook.com/mannyscafeinc read more

Great spot for breakfast and lunch with good food and friendly service. The owner, Manny, claims that his chilaquiles are the best in DuPage County. I don't have any basis for comparison, but both the traditional and rojas were damn good. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. read more

The best chilaquiles I ever tasted. I am mexican and these chilaquiles taste like the ones you cook at home. Definitely will reorder.

Sooo yummy! Had a meat lovers skillet and bf had chilaquiles with their southern gravy and pancakes and it was delicious! Will be back. Hidden gem! read more

We had a party with 60 people yesterday and Manny's supplied beef brisket that was to die for--raving reviews from all in attendance--fried chicken that was better than any I've tasted, and Mac and cheese. Everyone had multiple servings and there was still food left. He sure knows how to cater! I highly recommend Manny's for your next event! read more

My son had picked this out and what a pleasant surprise. It is very small but the food is great and the service is stellar. I would highly recommend this place but you might have to wait to be seated but once in you will happy you did read more

I should trust my gut more often. I've been driving past Manny's Cafe for a bit now. It's located at the far north end of the shopping center on the west side of Gary Avenue just north of North Avenue. Easy to get in and out of the plaza, but I've just kept on driving...until today. We pulled in and immediately noticed they didn't really look open. We forged ahead anyway and found a super clean although fairly small dining space. I think they're seating up to about 24 people. I'm choosing to think of it as "elite seating". Chef & owner Manny came out to greet us right away with menus and a smile. He followed with freshly brewed coffee. I wanted to talk about his chicken & waffles. I've been trying these practically everywhere I go lately. He told me that he chooses to use the leg & thigh meat, bourbon infused maple syrup that he's back there infusing and a fresh waffle. Boom - done! I added on an English muffin so I could try one of his homemade jams. He had a nice variety available. I think they were strawberry, blueberry bourbon, apricot, peach/raspberry and a few more. My husband ordered a short stack of pancakes, sausage links and an English muffin because we apparently love carbs. A gentleman came in to carry out an order he had called in and Manny was right on top of it. Another couple came in for their first visit while we were there too. We laughed when we overheard "Oh my gosh! I don't know what this is but it's delicious!" It was homemade jam and she was a fan too! Apparently he does a pretty busy weekday lunch, but I don't think enough people know he's there to have sort of weekend crowd he has earned. Want to know why I said "earned"? Well, the food was great! The hubs loved his pancakes and said the sausage was a good quality. We both had perfectly toasted English muffins and the strawberry jam. Had I realized he was going to order strawberry too, I would have ordered a different one to try. It was sweet without making my teeth hurt, had some seeds, but not too many and had mixed pieces of fresh berries with a spreadable factor. My chicken was perfectly deboned. The breading was well seasoned and actually adhered to the chicken. He cooked it low and slow to get a crisp crust with a juicy piece of meat inside. I loved it! There was powered sugar on both entries and it's really unnecessary. I will ask for no powdered sugar next time. There was a server who filled our drinks and delivered the food. She was unobtrusive...almost to the point of needing to be around a little more. Manny came back out after breakfast and talked with both tables. He's been open since July 2018. He's not just slinging frozen food into a fryer and calling it a day, so the food take a little longer. Call in your order if you're on a time crunch. I love that there's some decor, but it's not overdone so there aren't dust catchers all over the place. Prices were reasonable and we agreed we both want to go back. I think he's got a successful place on his hands and hope you'll check it out too. I'd love to know what you think! read more

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We stopped here for breakfast this morning for breakfast, and I have to say, this place is amazing! I got chilaquiles, and they were so hood! The tortilla chips weren't soggy- they still had some bite to the, the eggs were perfectly over medium, and the pickled red onions added the perfect hit of acid. So delicious! The BF ordered steak and eggs with chimichuri. It also came with fries that were perfectly cooked and seasoned (i taste-tested to confirm) The steak was cooked perfectly and the chimichuri balanced the dish. All that and the service was just as good as the food! Would we return? ABSOLUTELY! Would we recommend this restaurant? FOR SURE! read more

This place is great and the food was delicious. Serve was top notch and will definitely be returning.

We are from the city so we Yelped a breakfast joint. This place is your classic diner! GREAT FOOD AND SERVICE! Don't expect fancy decor in this place but just expect good food! Friendly vibes! I ordered a Cuban sandwich and asked to make it into a breakfast sandwich and added egg. Manny obliged and came through with a AWESOME "Breakfast Cuban"!! Although from the Logan square, Humboldt park area where PR, Cuban food is at its finest and I must say to make it a Cuban you toast the bread or press it like a panini so to speak. This wasn't. That's the only thing I would change. Other than that it was really one of the best sandwiches I'VE EVER HAD PERIOD! The pork was outstanding! The amount of egg was plentiful, perfect! Had French Toast to finish and that was just OUTSTANDING! Even Coffee was great!! Definitely making a drive just for Mannys food!! 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!! read more

Manny's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois

Food was cold when served and really nothing special about this tiny place. Toilets were filthy. Felt like I had food poisoning after eating here read more

What a delicious local find! Inside this humble strip mall cafe, we were so happy to be greeted by a very friendly, efficient staff serving high quality, scrumptious food. We went for breakfast and are looking forward to trying their lunch menu. The steak & eggs were so utterly perfect - a thin, well seasoned rib eye served on chimichurri sauce with your choice of 2 eggs and side - I went for over easy and breakfast potatoes. I can't imagine it being any better. My partner had the equally tasty Mexican omelet - so flavorful. The quality of the ingredients and care the goes into preparation are obvious. We had a chance to talk to the chef/owner, Manny. He has good reason to be proud of what he serves and you can see how much he enjoys what he does and the people that come to try his food - then keep coming back! Looking forward to our next visit already. read more

Besides being extremely small and cramped let's get to why I'm reviewing. I waitress was very nice, coffee was fine and the pancakes where pretty decent. BUT I had the steak n eggs. The scrambled eggs were blah But the steak was AWFUL! It was a bit over cooked but I can deal with that. The steak was TOUGH and poor quality. I could have gone to jewel and gotten a steak that sized and it would be much better. And it was bland read more

This place is a real find! We are from out of town and needed to stop for breakfast and randomly chose Mannys. The orange juice was fresh squeezed. They even make their own butter and jams. But the main course of omelettes or breakfast potatoes or smoked salmon Benedict... Wow! You need to try it. Great service and The chef, Manny even came by our table to say a quick hello. Try Manny's! read more

Very good fresh food. We ordered chilaquiles, chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict and chocolate chip pancakes. Everything was delicious. We did have 6 people and the place is small and super tight but worth it. read more

Manny's Cafe - The chef brought these out for having a long wait. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois

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The food was very fresh! The vegetables had substance ( not a tiny piece of green pepper nice size pieces) and delicious flavors! The service was excellent and friendly! A small cafe style with big flavor and personality! Manny's is a true gem! read more

The potatoes here are AWESOME! Thanks Manny for a tasty breakfast! Breakfast is my thing and I've gone to many places in the suburbs. I try to avoid the chains, so when I read about Manny's, I couldn't wait to try it out. It's not that far from my house, but I couldn't remember seeing it on all my drives heading north on Gary Avenue. Google maps showed me the little dot, but it wasn't until I visited that I got where it's located. It's just north of North Avenue on the west side in a strip mall by a hair salon. Almost across the street from Advanced Auto Parts. There is a sign out in front to help those geographically challenged like me. Back to the food....there are many breakfast selections. I chose an egg white frittata which came with potatoes and fruit or toast. I picked the fruit and got raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. Thanks for the variety! Many places give you lots of cantaloupe and call it a day. My frittata was great and the potatoes were so yummy! They are diced, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Manny puts some onions and peppers in them too for some flavor. They were nice and fresh, you could tell they hadn't been sitting under a heat lamp. Hubby got the All American breakfast - eggs, sausage and toast or muffin. He got the muffin and some raspberry jam which was nice and fresh. We had never tasted fresh jam before and wow! Our server stopped in and chatted and Manny came out of the kitchen as well. It was a great experience. Stop in! You will love it! read more

Absolutely wonderful!!! I brought 3 little girls with me after jumping at Rock N Jump for a few hours this morning. They needed great food and a relaxed atmosphere, this place is perfect. Incredible food, wonderful service and a laid back atmosphere. read more

Manny's is great, perfect place to stop for breakfast, i take my 5 year old there and he loves it!

Came here on New Year's Eve morning after reading the Yelp reviews and we were not disappointed! Yes, it's a small space but that should not deter anyone! The staff was extremely kind and welcoming; service was outstanding and the food was fantastic! I had the Brioche French Toast and it was cooked to perfection and came out piping hot (which is usually not the case with French Toast). My husband had the biscuits and gravy - wow! Very good and unique - the biscuits had cheese in them and the gravy had a nice (but very mild) 'kick' to it. Generous portions, coffee cups never empty, quality food and service . . . don't miss out on this great little cafe! read more

Manny is such a fun chef to chat with!! He really loves food and loves making it and serving it to others. When his restaurant is slow he comes out and chats with his customers. His homemade jams are SO GOOD!! I purposefully ordered toast just so I could slather them on there. Pancakes looked great, benedicts were done wonderfully, and the fries were awesome! I found out that Manny went to College of DuPage, so I knew I had to go and show his restaurant some support. Our food was fresh and delicious! I wish there was cafe de olla or a horchata latte on the menu - something outside of the basic coffee and tea! We will definitely be back to try more items off the menu! Thanks, Manny! read more

Manny's Cafe - Delicious breakfast sandwich with awesome fries!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois

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Words cannot describe this experience. This is a local MUST!! Wonderful people, incredibly good food , generous portions and available for take out. Do not miss their homemade soup. Frittata, breakfast wrap, chicken wrap, skillets all delicious. They are especially attentive to seniors. Bless them! read more

The people are very nice and the food is delicious! I wish they were open a little earlier as I'm usually in the area around 7:45am but it's worth the wait. Their breakfast burrito is the best! read more

This is a great little place. Great staff and great food! Manny himself was able to step out of the kitchen and chat for a bit. Very nice guy. We are new to the area and tired of the chain food so we went for a local joint and we're not disappointed. Stop in and support local business and family business. Keep up the good work Manny. We will see you again next week. read more

Really "quaint" location with really tasty food. I visited about two months ago and think about going back every week, but I must forge on to try different spots in search of the best cakes in the burbs. Manny's is high on the list. One opportunity for upgrade - figure out a way for dining guests to not be impacted by cold when new guests arrive. The blast of cold air drafts while eating wasn't pleasant. Rough challenge in that space, but impactful nonetheless. read more

Excellent. I highly recommend this place. Great overall ambience.The food is fresh and delicious and reasonably priced. The staff are very friendly. Our waitress , Perla, was kind and courteous. Manny ( owner and cook)came out and talked with us. He has such a passion for what he does. 5 stars! read more

Manny's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois

A friend from out of town was visiting her daughter. This just sounded like a great place. It was! The food was great, the service was great and the prices were reasonable. Wish I lived closer so I could be a regular customer. I had the Steak and eggs and it was fantastic! read more

Awesome place to eat when your hungry. Food is always consistent. Manny the owner takes pride as a cook and comes up with plates that leave your mouth watering. The coffee is good flavored and bold. If your a coffee drinker consider your dreams answered. The place is small but it gives you a personal feel and it gives the owner some time to come and chat with you. That is what makes it stand out the most in knowing they genuinely know you and take that personal time out to make sure you had a great experience. Take some time out and visit the establishment and tell him the fat guy in shorts sent you. read more

I can't describe how unassuming this place is and by the same token how delicious the food is. They make their own jams-- fabulous!! The menu is multi cultural-- eggs and bacon/ham/chorizo, omelettes, skillets, french toast, oatmeal, pancakes. Make your own omelette or skillet -- something for everyone! And bountiful portions-I took some home. The coffee is smooth and fresh, and always being refilled. Friendly mom & pop place. You won't be sorry you stopped here. read more

This food is just amazing. I've had at least 6 different things and they are all good. The homemade infused jams are to die for. I literally get toast because the jams are so good. The cook is great and friendly and the one waitress is efficient and friendly.The place is small and can be easily overlooked but the food is amazing. This has become a regular place to eat and visit for me. Oh and if a dish is spicy pleasse understand he uses his spices and flavors very well. I had this dish today and again it was excellent. read more

Manny's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carol Stream, Illinois