7 years since my review here. Mr. Allisons is still the best. Everytime I go somewhere else it's more expensive, less food, less tasty, worse service. Also its just cozy here! The ladies remember you when you come in. It's packed with people and a ton of locals. Don't go anywhere else for breakfast. read more

This is your go-to breakfast place if you are trying to shoot your cholesterol levels through the roof and kill yourself. They proudly claim to offer "The Biggest Breakfast" and they are true to their word! Since they offer ZERO fruit, I ordered a side of hash browns, which were served as a triple-sized portion. They seemed to be prepared in grease, not oil, and I found them inedible after 2 bites. My husband, who is a big, tall guy and could eat breakfast for every single meal, said that his omelette must have been made out of a dozen eggs. There was a "greasy" texture to all of his food and he found it inedible as well. This place offers some kind of ham that he was excited to try, but he spat it out into his napkin. The good? Very cute and charming "old school" diner feel, service was adequate and the prices, if you want to feel like you are eating from a dumpster, are quite good. read more

Service was slow great ham. Went there when eggs and sausage was 2 50 wow where did the time go. Pea soup was eh. . read more

Mr Allison's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

Always great service and value . All the pictures speak for themselves. The ham is the best anywhere period so if you love ham you need to come here. I'm not sure how they can charge the prices they do but it's a great value. Soup menu changes daily but pea soup is always available. read more

See all

Stopped by for breakfast with nephew. The place wasn't busy being it was a holiday. The vibe is old school diner, seat where you want to sit and the menu is on the desk. I got the western omelet with wheat toast and a gravy on the side. I also ordered the side of king ham. my nephew got the breakfast special (2 eggs, king ham and 3 pancakes). This place gets 5 stars for the king ham. This is what sets this place apart. The omelet had tons of ham chunks, so if you love ham and eggs, western omelet is the way to go. Staff members were friendly and provided great service! read more

See all

Food is always great and fast for a cheap price . I personally also love the milkshakes, if anyone's looking for something sweet. The service is always nice to since the workers you can tell put lots of effort forward into what they do and environment is very talkative and welcoming. read more

Why have I not written a review for this delicious place? Mr. Allison's is our go-to for delicious breakfast and lunch. The staff is always friendly and the seating is comfortable, clean, and welcoming. Hubs and I wanted something light for lunch and Mr. Allison's always hit for a tasty meal. They have an incredible ham sandwich with REAL HAM! Not those cheesy little slices from a package, but real thick sliced ham. Hubs gets a ham sandwich on white toast which is better than his childhood meal. It's packed with juicy ham, come with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and half of a pickle. I love their crispy bacon so a BLT Club is my go-to. It's not fancy, it's just good. I wish there were more bacon to each sandwich but it's still filling. They charge extra for fries or chips to go with, which the servers don't mention (the extra charge) when they ask if you want fries or chips. The soups are DELICIOUS! They serve good o' fashioned split pea soup with ham. I don't care for the croutons cubes because depending on the day, it can taste a little oily and stale to me. All of their creamed soups are yummy, my favorite being the Cream of Chicken Rice. Permanently on the soup rotation are Split Pea and Chili (which can have a little kick). The other soup rotates. Don't miss on the breakfast options too! I love their breakfast combos with eggs and ham or bacon. The pancakes are light and fluffy. The French toasts are crispy and thick! I don't think I've ever had a bad meal at Mr. Allison's. They also sell cooked ham by the pound, quarter, half, and whole for gatherings! We also get 2 pounds of thick cut ham & they make great sandwiches at home. Our sons will eat them as snacks. We order ham from Mr. Allison's for Easter and Thanksgiving. Why cook when theirs is tastier? read more

Mr. A's is wonderful. We come here quite a bit because it is one of the few places my som can get either gluten-free pancakes OR gluten-free French Toast. Their food is always delicious, particularly the specials. Good coffee, great ham! The ham makes it a worth a special trip. They are often busy, but efficient so the wait isn't usually too long. The servers are great and really all the staff is too. The place is always clean and decorated nicely. Always worth the trip. read more

Mr Allison's has been a favorite of mine for several years! The split pea soup is absolutely the best. It's flavorful with big bits of ham. The croutons really complete the experience! I now live over an hour a half away so I make sure I stop and get some to bring home when I'm in the area! read more

Mr Allison's - A generous to go serving with croutons on the side! YUM! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Great breakfast and ham off the bone. The wait staff is wonderful and very accommodating. The party next to us was a party of 18 and our waitress was on top of everything and even did separate checks for the party of 18. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

Mr Allison's - Ham and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

Ham! They got it! I like ham in my breakfast and they really do the ham well. Big chunks in ham omelettes or a big ham steak available too. Really well done food, big menu, service is always excellent, short wait times. If I had a complaint it would be the booths are made for children or really skinny people so I would recommend the counter or a table, there are plenty. read more

Get the ham special waitress and staff are very friendly And prices are reasonable try this place for a good breakfast or lunch spot in a little neighborhood strip mall read more

Great spot for breakfast or brunch. I tried the meat lovers skillet, and wow. Talk about meat!! Loaded with their fabulous ham and tons of bacon. (Really heart healthy LOL). Didn't find much sausage, but still great. Huge portion, had it again at home for dinner a day later. My wife had the Monte Cristo. Also amazing. Also had the other half of it a day later. Highly recommend! read more

You can't get a breakfast like this anywhere else. Holy shit! Try anything with ham in it.

2nd time I've been here, the food is fresh & delicious. Today I tried their special which was lingonberry blitz which was SO good. The other person had ham and eggs. The ham is nice and thick pieces, not that thin stuff. They're also offering a great all you can eat fish fry right now. read more

Mr Allison's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

This quaint and homely restaurant is the perfect place for a Sunday brunch. Its coziness adds to its style of being a classic breakfast place. The service is amazing, as soon as we stepped inside the hosts greeted us with friendly attitude, and our waitress was diligent and attentive the entire time. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were huge! I got to try their yummy seasonal lingonberry crepes that were packed with cream and topped with slightly tart berries. Their country fried steak skillet is also mouthwatering and was paired with fluffy pancakes. read more

See all

Prices are very fair, portions are Huge,all breakfast items taste great, for lunch try the homemade spoups-outsatanding

The food is very good. The prices are reasonable and the wait staff is very attentive. We will definitely be returning to try different items on the menu. read more

Pea soup is outstanding. Breakfasts are great. Ham with anything is fantastic. French fries are great and plentiful and great service! read more

This place can get very busy, but rightfully so! The food is amazing. The ham was phenominal and the highlight of our meal. Staff is always super friendly and overall a great expirence. We will absolutely be coming back over and over! read more

Order a whole ham for Easter. I will definitely be buying my holiday hams from Mr. Allison's. Customer service is 5 stars, thanks for making my holiday great! read more

After living in the area for 53 years, I FINALLY tried Mr Allisons. I have now been there 4 times in the last 3 weeks. Good diner for breakfast. BIG portions I get the #1 3 eggs, american fries, ham and toast. Always get my eggs scrambled. Must be dipping a large ladle into a tub of already mixed eggs, or they are using xl or jumbo eggs. Always plenty of eggs and potatoes. The ham has to be 1/4# ...and good. I asked for my toast to be wet and the butter was slathered on :) 4 times being there, the only time not BUSY, was the day I got there not long after opening. Otherwise, always BUSY...for a reason. Went one morning when it was a holiday and kids were home from school. Noticed a number of grandparents taking grand kids to breakfast. All 4 times, waitresses have been very friendly. Frequently stopping to fill my coffee. This place is a local favorite. For a reason. I started coming here after hearing others talk about it and then found out for myself. read more

So right off the bat, if you like ham in plentiful supply, this is your spot. Pretty busy suburban joint, good for a variety of breakfast items. What I would recommend is anything with ham. I don't know if they have a pig farm in the back but these guys load your plate with ham to the point that white flags come out and pants get unzipped. I had the omelette (with ham, obviously). It was tasty - but the egg ratio to ham was too little. Next time I will, and would recommend the skillet with scrambled eggs. The omelette was super thin, where is the scrambled eggs that my friend had seem more proportional dish . Service was OK, not great. Coffee was not bad, also not great. Fresh squeezed orange juice is lights out though, so I would definitely recommend that. I will definitely go back, just a little bit wiser this time . read more

Mr Allison's - Omelette (should call it Omelette-lite) Tasty - but the egg is too thin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

Love the ham here. Not even really a ham person but it's ham heaven. Just smokey enough, plenty of moisture, excellent flavor. Overall, the food is quite tasty. Laid back atmosphere with very good service. read more

Ham. Get the ham. Ham ham ham, ham. Not lamb, not spam, ham. Ham and eggs, ham sandwich, get the ham. A few more words about the ham... The ham is plentiful. You may be bringing home ham leftovers. The ham is served by a wonderful staff The ham is professionally prepared by ham chefs who know their ham. Okay, not sure about ham chefs, but hey...get the ham. Ham radio operators will love this ham. Ham. read more

See all

Went there yesterday for a simple BLT and Fries. The worst . Maybe 1 piece of bacon , soggy bread mostly bitter lettuce. The Fies looked and smelled like they were befriend 10 times that day. Ate one and threw in the garbage. Place has gone downhill and don't recommend. Too many other nice breakfast spots in town.... read more

BEST breakfast place ever!!! Reasonable, great food and good service!!! Been around for decades

Food was just average Service was fast & polite Very noisy. Restaurant is well worn & definitely needs an update! read more

We ordered a Ham Omlet and got a huge omelet, that we couldn't finish. It was Great !!!! Its worth a trip there read more

Mr. A's, as it's known to locals, is among the best old school diners in the NW burbs. The décor surely dates back a few decades, but the dining room is clean and well maintained. The vibe, punctuated by the clatter of dishes, is cheerful. The staff makes you feel welcome. Whether you order breakfast or lunch, portions here are impossibly huge but, blessedly, their prices have not kept pace with inflation. Mr. A's specialty is ham. I always order a side of ham with my breakfast. It's such a generous portion that there is always enough to take home for a sandwich. On a recent cold winter day, my lunch began with a bowl of split pea soup to warm the heart of my cockles. Theirs contains generous chunks of ham and house-made croutons. Next, a ham sandwich on whole wheat. They sear the ham on the griddle and the overstuffed sandwich is crazy-good. My Missus was equally happy with her chicken noodle soup and burger. Their fresh-cut fries are among the best - we ask for 'em well done so they're extra-crispy. read more

Mr Allison's - Ham sandwich on whole wheat - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

I almost NEVER give five stars. I'm a nut for ham. Good, bad, fake. I love ham. (OK, note, NOT "turkey ham"). I once went to a restaurant that offered "flights of ham." Paradise. I have driven the back roads of "ham country" in the US - Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas in search of small producers and had delightful afternoons of ham orgies. And now I'm about to embark on a journey to Italy, arguably the ham center of the universe, and I can't wait. But first? After nearly 40 years in the Chicago area, I've just heard of a restaurant that refers to itself as "The House of Ham," Mr. Allison's diner, in the NW suburb of Arlington Heights. (Yes, home of the future stadium for the Chicago Bears, on the site of the now closed Churchill Downs race track. Allison's is open for breakfast and lunch, roughly 6AM - 3PM daily. They feature a very extensive offering of breakfast and lunch dinners, certainly something to satisfy any taste bud. But me, I'm focused on ham. It was midday, so I wasn't really feeling particularly breakfast-ee. But I had to have the ham. AH HA, on the side orders menu, there's a breakfast portion and a giant portion on offer. Ham on rye should be sufficient! Sandwiches come loaded (if you choose) with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. I skipped them in favor of plain old yellow mustard, the perfect ham compliment. The meat was thick sliced and very lean. Slightly smoked. Fries (additional) are fresh cut and a serving large enough to feed the table. They had a light dusting of seasoned salt, not usually something I go for, but it was OK. Should you choose from the breakfast side of the menu (ample choices), most plates come with three eggs. All pricing is more than fair, and certainly less than around my neighborhood, a couple of suburbs to the west. Allison's can also supply all your ham needs, on an everyday or holiday basis, whole, half, sliced, and even ham bones for your home recipes. Prices run around $5-$6 per pound, more than reasonable. Order by phone or in person. 847.228.5870. I will be back. Often. read more

See all

Old school breakfast and lunch diner. The food is delicious. I'm hooked on the Aces Club Sandwich, you've got to order something with their ham. Friendly service. Fast, friendly and attentive. Don't let the strip store location dissuade you. It's busy and clean. Restaurant a little worn but catering and carry out are options. I live in Chicago and when I feel like a drive it's well worth the trip. So good. read more

The BEST! I have been driving to Mr. Allison's in Arlington Heights, IL from Carol Stream, IL for the past 8-10 years. Why? Because there's no other breakfast / lunch restaurant - diner like it anywhere else in the west - northwest suburbs of Chicago! Without question the best service, food quality, and value in the entire Chicagoland area. It is literally like walking into a restaurant from generations past, when casual family owned restaurants took pride in serving great food and providing friendly service at a more than fair price. 10 stars if it was possible! read more

It's been a long time since I've been back to this place. Ham steak was really good! Everything else was made well. Service was good and I sat at the counter top as usual. Soups are really good. Took home the cream of chicken. read more

Great service plus outstanding food and great value = perfect breakfast! Our group of friends just loved our breakfast. The cinnamon roll French toast was decadent. The grilled breakfast ham was perfectly seared and the coffee was nice and hot. Highly recommended! read more

Mr Allison's - Cinnamon roll French toast with ham and eggs. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

Four of us went to Mr Allison's on several friends' recommendations. Mr Allison's is unimposing. You feel like you've stepped back in time to an old diner. The ambiance is quite nice. And, the staff is among the most friendly as I've seen in many much more high-priced places. We had a variety of items. I'm told the vegetarian omelet, the pancakes, the skillets, and the ham were outstanding. Those who follow me know I have several food allergies and typically say something about how well they accommodate that. I ordered the Breakfast Burger - no cheese on gluten-free toast. So, no milk products and no gluten. The milk is genuinely an allergy and not simply lactose intolerant. I'm overly sensitive to gluten and have bad physical reactions when I eat anything with Gluten. Thank goodness I don't have Celiac Disease. When the burger arrived, it looked wonderful. I was genuinely impressed by the look of the toast. Typically, the gluten-free break is made up of very small slices. This one looked like real bread. Sometimes, looks are not deceiving. When I got home, the reactions started. Let's say I had no sleep that night. So, I am disappointed they made a mistake with food sensitivity. This isn't very unusual. Sometimes, people don't understand how bad it can be when they don't follow instructions. The reason for the three stars was for the wait staff and the comments about the food from the rest of my party. As for me, not following instructions on food allergies is not acceptable. For that, take away two stars. For the owners, please make it clear to the kitchen staff that following these instructions truly matters. By not following them, your customers can get seriously ill, read more

Love ham? This is the place for you! Great quality with huge portions. Affordable,reasonable pricing. Long term efficient servers. Hidden Gem! read more

For a restaurant with homemade Ham as the number one specialty, there is no excuse to not get some Ham. I would argue you must get Ham to truly have a Mr Allison's experience, and my vegan uncle who recently dined with me is fooling himself if he thinks he understands what this place is all about. Sure, the atmosphere is wonderfully dated, filled with a ragtag group of regulars who've likely called this place home for Decades. And yes, you might accidentally grab one of their favorite tables before they arrive and they'll stare at you through the window until you're done eating. That's all part of the charm! But the Ham? The Ham is truly decadent, wildly salt, and offered up in different chunks and cubes so that it can fit into whatever breakfast you might order. Sure you could order some oatmeal or pancakes without Ham, but why would you? Why would you ever go to Mr Allison's and not have Ham? Are you out of your mind? read more

Mr Allison's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

See all

Recently went to Mr Allison's again after about a year in between. I chose to get the carnitas skillet which was a special that day, and it also came with pancakes & hash-browns. For the price you pay, you get a ton of food. It's certainly not inconvenient for what you receive, and the food typically comes out very fast. On a normal day, you can easily get in and out within the hour. Our group sat at the bar, and it seems that we would have no issues with needing any extra napkins, silverware, or refills. Staff is very friendly and they've been there for years. Highly recommend if you're in the area and want brunch food! read more

The food was delicious and talk about a lot. When ordering the omelets there most definitely enough to share with another.