Totally recommend!! The food was really good. We had a 1-2-3 (with a buckwheat pancake) with a side of potatoes and an order of chicken fried steak. The eggs were cooked perfectly, pancake was huge, hearty, and tasty, bacon was good. Chicken fried steak was very tender and the gravy was delicious!! Good coffee and oj, too. Staff was speedy but we never felt rushed, everyone was friendly and coffee never went cold-someone was always making rounds to refill. They even offered us a cup to go. Love that. It's a diner and it's kind of loud inside but it's really clean and open and the tables and chairs are comfortable. Prices were fairly reasonable. 100% will be back. read more

Delicious, great atmosphere, wonderful service, tasty food. It's just an all around good place with a good vibe. Servers are efficient, friendly, and professional. And you can bring you dog if you sit in the patio area! read more

Great breakfast spot. Definitely worth the trip. Kids had a waffle, eggs and bacon plate, plenty of food for 2 kids for 10bucks, waffle was nice and fluffy and the rest was great. Huevos rancheros got thumbs up from my wife, again the full is probably plenty for 2 people. As always the staff is excellent. They are open for dine in with spaced out tables and their standard outdoor waiting. They also have outdoor dining. We chose takeout and had a picnic in the parking lot - food was fresh, on time and they had all the forks and ketchup you needed. read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - the front of the restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

Greetings fellow YELPERS. First of all I have never seen a 50s style cafe' that actually made me feel like I was on Happy Days tv show. I was there for brunch and I could not believe how many people had the same opinion of this establishment. (FANTASTIC) My bride and I were seared after a short wait. Our waitress Jill, was at our service in a flash. I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and my bride ordered the Club Sandwich. As we waited for our breakfast, our waitress came back to see if we needed anything she was followed by young lady who made sure my coffee cup was full. Then our brunch showed up. Again I was surprised at the amount of portions that we were served. My Chicken Fried Steak was huge, tender and delicious. My wife's Club sandwich was great. Neither one of us could finish our meals so we will be enjoying them later. I know the review is wordy, however it had to be told. So if you drive up and are questioning whether or not to go in, My experience is now, ALL OF CHICO CANT BE WRONG. They are great!! read more

A great American Diner serving excellent meals for breakfast and lunch. Service is fast, friendly and accurate. It's loud! It's packed. It' a Chico Icon! read more

very nice people, but...wow...the food is Horrible and WAY overpriced. Sorry, but felt very, very ripped off. ; (

Parking in lot. Waiting line to get seated. Cold weather outside was quicker seating. Eggs, any style, hash browns, and choice on bread tasted excellent. Waffles with Maple syrup was very good. The service was excellent. Overall, 5 stars out of 5 read more

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Always good as usual. I enjoy coming here each time when here in Chico!! Keep up the great work!!

Yes the bacon is amazing. I also had a waffle today and it was the best waffle I've ever had. I don't like waiting but morning thunder is worth you going to. read more

Very nice diner! Portions are huge and the staff are very friendly. Luckily you can choose the size of your waffle and pancake. Our server was always checking on us and getting anything we requested. Can be very busy so I would recommend getting early. read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - "Small" waffle with strawberries and bananas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

Service is very slow and coffee refills take about 15 minutes do not recommend eating here

Nestled in a tasteful art moderne structure that's beautifully designed, the Morning Thunder Cafe feels like it's a snapshot of 1930s America. The lunch counter seating is reminiscent of a era when Chico was more of a small down than a college town. The vibe is comfortable, homey, and inviting. Large windows flood the rounded interior with natural light and scenes of the surrounding suburban area. To the important part: the food is cooked to impress, and the large portions are served to make a statement. I ordered the St. Thomas omelet served with a side of gluten-free toast and fruit, a stack of two enormous gluten-free pancakes, and a classic cup of Joe. The meal, overall, was fantastic. The pancakes were sweet and fluffy. Pancakes don't need to be anything else. The sausage in the St. Thomas was well seasoned and generously allocated. The coffee was superb as well; it didn't taste like you'd expect diner coffee to taste. Service was swift. Servers were friendly. Clearly, this is a well managed and operated cafe. I walked out of the cafe happy, full, and with an unconsumed pancake for the road. I'll be sure to return whenever I'm in Chico. read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - St. Thomas with fruit. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

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Thunder has been rocking my for 30 years. Many great, savory dishes and sweet ones too! But if you're looking for a healthy choice on their menu that's not just an "egg whites only" meat-less/cheese-less omelette or subbing spinach for bread... Vegematers!!! Cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, olives, cheese, sour cream and tomatoes instead of potatoes. I like to add jalapeños too. After a big run or when I'm doing any physical training to reach a goal, Vegematers totally hit the spot and are guilt-free! Try 'em (p.s. before I shot this photo I ate 4 pieces of ) read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Vegematers (with pickled jalapeños added) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

I was here about a week ago with my girlfriend to grab some early breakfast. We were met by the manager/owner I believe and seated promptly. I advised her that we have never been here before and it was our first time, she was excited for us!! We have heard good things about it and we're so excited to try it out. The waitresses came and took our order about 5 minutes after being sat and we waited for our food. And waited, and waited some more until I saw people who sat after us, ordered after us, got their food before us! I was able to grab the business owner and state how we have been waiting for over an hour for our food and if it was going to be longer I would just pay for our drinks and get going. She made it clear that this is not the norm and made our order go to the front of line, we got our food about 5 mins after!! She was so nice and apologetic about the whole issue. They even covered the bill which is so awesome to especially since it was our first time there. We will be back because of how they fixed the problem and the customer service they displayed to make things right. The food was really good after waiting, it was worth it. Recommend this place! read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Chicken fried steak - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

We ordered breakfast to go on a Monday morning at around 7:30 a.m. It was a fast and easy experience. The waitress that checked me out was really nice. I had the Mexican omelette. It was great. Really great flavor. Good size portion. read more

Cool dinner place in Chico. Very busy so do ensure you understand you may wait. Staff is super super friendly which is great when you haven't had coffee yet! Lots of free parking options in the lot and bathrooms are here but outside of the location. You will need a key to get into the bathroom which was kinda weird. Overall food was ok. My pancakes were chewy which is odd but the flavors were great. The FAMOUS Bacon is famous for a reason. Tasted the best I've ever had! Perfectly cooked. I also go the Bidwell Egg Sandwich which was phenomenal. Like completely perfect egg sandwich, however the country potatoes were the worst myself and 4 others ever had. Literally boiled potatoes set on a plate. No seasoning, no onions, no peppers, no nothing; completely ruined the dish as whole. Not a bad place but I'd probably recommend looking at more options if you are something who wants everyone to have a good meal. Do note some friends had better meals. read more

You won't go away hungry here. There is food and lots of it. If you can polish off the full order of huevos rancheros, call your Gastroenterologist, cause you're going to be put on some sort of a cleanse to exorcise that food demon. Don't think your dropping in on a weekend morning and get sat immediately. There is a wait, place is popular, they do get you in with in 15 mins depending on how many at your table. This place is busy and like every restaurant in Chico they do have beer "cocktails", order one because it's going to be a good 30 minutes for your food. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere. Breakfast menu has many options and they push their bacon (it's good and almost everything can come with it). Didn't have anything that we were unsatisfied with except the burger. Well done and not even the bacon could save it. Club, biscuits and gravy, huevos, bagel sando's were good. An above average diner that will have you on the edge of a food coma when you leave. Check it out. read more

We had an amazing breakfast! The staff was very friendly and helpful with recommendations of things we can do in the area given we were from out of town. Their biscuits and gravy (with sausage) was AMAZING and my kids loved their Mickey/Minnie pancakes!! This was a great stop for breakfast and should we find ourselves in Chico again, we will be back!! Great old time diner feel! read more

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The food is good! The service is great! My friend and I always meet there! The like the selection

One of our favorite breakfast places to go!! The muffins are to die for!! I drive by some days, just for the muffins!! Our favorite breakfast is the French toast!! Large servings and you always walk away with a smile on your face and can't wait to go back! read more

Stayed overnight for a retirement party and this place was recommended. Did not disappoint. I have the chicken fried steak and my wife got the 1,2,3. Both were great. No complaints and lots of leftovers. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back next time I'm in town. read more

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I saw the name Morning Thundar Cafe and couldn't get it out of my head. I had to go to this breakfast house. Atmosphere: The place is packed. I had to wait outside after signing a list to wait for a table. The good news is there is seating for waiting outside. The inside is a bit retro. There is counter if you are eating alone and table for parties. Either way you should expect it to be crowded and to have to wait. Value: The portions are huge. You can expect to pay between $8 to $12 depending on what you order but the food is filling. Quality: The amulets are great and so are the pancakes. I also tried the poppy seed French toast. The food is fresh and delicious. I almost forgot to mention the bacon. It's worth it. Service: Fast to order and deliver. Paying is taking your check to the register. I still found it fast and friendly. It feels a little odd but the restroom is on the outside. They have the key on the wall with a giant spoon as the key chain. read more

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Top notch service from Kaylynn & all the wait staff at Morning Thunder! This restaurant never disappoints. The servers are so attentive and friendly. Every time we've visited Chico we make a bee line for breakfast here. The food is delicious & they offer gluten free options. You can't go wrong! read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

They always serve such good portions. The prices on their menu are always so affordable. Fast service, great customer service and the food is superb! read more

We've been coming here for breakfast since the early 2000s! The food is great, and the service is great. The GIANT pancakes are so good!

I came in about a month ago but I haven't had time to leave a review. I came here for breakfast with two of my friends. We sat inside towards the back of the restaurant. I will say that on a cold morning you may want to keep your coat on due to the draft of those doors being used frequently. I ordered a Waffle & The Bidwell Egg. Both of which were hot and made exactly as described. This place reminds me of an old school diner. Something that would provide an at-home atmosphere to all of the regulars. I wasn't overly excited to come back for any reason. It was your basic diner breakfast food. But nothing to complain about either. Thank you so much guys! read more

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The service was so slow after being seated we waited for almost an hour with only one check in to refill our waters. Still haven't gotten my food and my family starved to death, plus my table was wonky. read more

Incredible food and wonderful service anytime I go there - their gluten free pancake and waffle options make it one of my favorite breakfast spots in Chico! The vegimaters plate is also ridiculously delicious! read more

You don't have to be Anthony Bourdain to ​know good food when you taste it. I've had a few meals at Morning Thunder Cafe, but today was very special. I'm out eating with my longtime friends, talking, when Adenia "Dee" Luna,the owner, came by our table to top off coffee. Asking, "is everything alright?" Little did I know Dee was the owner. Seems Karla, at our table is a longtime customer. They chatted it up and I listened to the sound of a well deserved history in Dee's cafe. I'm no stranger to restaurants up and down the state of California, and beyond. What always gets my gratitude is attention to details, the planning which makes any business run like clockwork. Morning Thunder Cafe makes the eating experience veryspecial. It may be a small ,family owned business, but what takes place with planning and preparation makes every meal worthy of the next performance. The deep experience for cafe dining is well orchestrated. I can very well tell that little things, like attention to details, mean everything concerning the Morning Thunder Cafe experience. Go there and see what is unique to your eyes. Your taste buds will surely agree to the fact that Dee takes humble pride in every plate served to her customers,new or old. read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Thank you Dee. Breakfast was great all around. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

I normally get the 2+2+2 and that's both delivery or if in house. They're very consistent and fast. Sometimes I'll add on a chicken fried steak w/ biscuits & gravy but that's if I'm saving for later. That said, steak and eggs is the only thing they don't offer that most breakfast places have & I wish they had. Their gravy is better or matches (deja vu & them match) best in Chico. read more

I love Morning Thunder Cafe. I've eaten here for years. The food is always fresh, the orders are generous, and the fare just tastes great, no matter your choice. I'm a fan of the biscuits and gravy myself, although the veggie omelot is stellar too. They keep the coffee coming, and their French Roast is aromatic and on spot. I like the atmosphere of the diner, and I never feel self-conscious dining alone. If you want to check out the local paper while you wait, just ask your waitress if anyone left one behind. When the days are temperate, you might prefer to eat on the patio, which is also dog-friendly. read more

The country fried steak today might have been the best I've ever had. For some reason the dishes that go with the homemade gravy seem to have a greater focus on quality. I still think the waffle and french toast served at this place could use some improvement. Service was excellent as usual, honestly impressive how efficiently the staff works even when the restaurant is slammed. read more

Great breakfast establishment. The waitresses are very friendly, they provide excellent service and the cooks keep me coming back by saving up yummy food. Small restaurant that is usually busy. read more

Our large group wanted to order a pick up order for breakfast Sunday morning. Unfortunately the phone must have been off the hook or someone's having a long conversation. We kept getting a busy tone. We ended up sending two people over to order, wait, and bring back the food. The food was good. I ordered the 1 2 3 with over easy eggs and waffles. Extra bacon of course. The wait didn't take long for the amount of people ordering. The waffle was good and the bacon even better!! I would say it's worth the extra cost... but I don't wanna condone charging 5$ for extra bacon. Upon opening my meal, I found a mess of some kind of wet substance covering the bottom of my container. It may have been oil? My eggs were also popped, which is sad because it's the best part of ordering over easy! I ate a few bites of the egg but pretty much skipped it since I couldn't tell what it was sitting in. I've been here before, and dining in is way better than taking out. read more

the portion size to price ratio coupled with the quality and freshness of the food, and speed of service makes me believe that Morning Thunder is the first 10/5 star brunch establishment in Chico. not only is it the best burger joint in Chico but it's operated by some extremely friendly and hardworking individuals. if you are new to the area or have never been - I couldn't possibly recommend somewhere better than morning thunder. read more

The food was awesome and the service matched. The old time cafe feel is like a time capsule. Above the dine in counter are coffee mugs for the regulars that frequent weekly. The biscuits and gravy were the best I've had. The gravy specifically is so so good. Biscuits are made from scratch and the plate is served with hash browns. The menu claims the it "dares you to finish the plate". I took that challenge but nearly came up short. More than healthy serving size. My beautiful wife ordered the poppyseed French toast with strawberries. The fruit was fresh and the French toast is everything you would expect it to be. The coffee comes in regular or French roast and is fresh to the cup. Lastly the service was really really good. I intend to go back very soon. I'm actually surprised that Diners, Drive ins and Dives hasn't made it here yet. Than again, if they had, I may not be able to get in.. read more

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Small inside. Seating is tight right next to each other. If you need Gluten Free they have options Service ok Biscuits are homemade and Sausage gravy is good Sausage itself not good- no flavor Gluten Free and regular French Toast delicious Bacon yummy Hard to enjoy the actual meal due to small environment everything echos and is loud. Not a bad place I just won't go back due to seating and small tables. read more

This was the first place my girlfriend took me to when I moved here. I absolutely love 1950's style diners, and this one is no exception. You have the countertop you can sit at, the inside area, or the patio, my favorite. I can't seem to get pass ordering the chicken chaser salad wrap. It is too good. Their bacon is beyond compare and all the ingredients just work so well. This is truly one of my favorite spots to dine in the Chico area. It can get busy, so if the line is not out the door, it shouldn't be too bad of a wait. read more

Open seating, fast coffee and food service. Great basic fair and great desserts. Nice and courteous staff.

Extremely long wait time, people who came after us were serviced way before us, and had their food and left. Asked multiple times where our food was and kept getting told "I will check on it". Our food when it did finally come was brought out at multiple different times. By the time it came we no longer had an appetite. Won't be returning. read more