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    Stella's Diner

    4.0 (914 reviews)
    ModerateDiners, American
    Updated 1 month ago

    Stella's Diner Photos

    Business Info

    STELLA'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Stella's Diner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Spinach Spinwheels
    Sabrina C.

    If you're looking for a true Chicago neighborhood gem, Stella's Diner in Lakeview is it. Walking in, you immediately feel the history and warmth of a family owned spot that's been around since the 60s. The staff treats you like you've been coming there forever and they're friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The menu is exactly what you want in a diner: classic breakfast served all day, plus comfort food favorites that taste homemade. I also love that they offer lighter, healthier options, so you don't have to feel guilty if you're not in full "diner mode." Prices are super reasonable for the portions you get, especially in the city. Whether you're stopping in for a quick coffee and eggs, a big family meal, or grabbing takeout through delivery, the quality is always consistent. Stella's has that rare mix of nostalgia and neighborhood charm........ Definitely a must if you're in Lakeview East and want a taste of Chicago comfort.

    Scrambled Eggs with Lox & Onion
    Annette D.

    True blue diner. Great food, fun shakes and above average service. The menu was awesome. So many things to try and we did.

    Michael A.

    Update: A tiny grilled cheese sandwich with avocado and tomato, and a glass of Coke Zero, now costs $27.00 with taxes and tip!! (Sides were a tiny cup of cole slaw and a tiny cup of sliced bananas and strawberries.) I know all about food inflation, but that's simply unacceptable. The wait staff is friendly, and it's not their fault, but the cooks seem to get the orders wrong a lot. On my first try, they gave me a grilled cheese with avocado and forgot the tomato. When I pointed this out, the cook simply peeled back the tiny sandwich and added some sad looking cold tomato slices. Ridiculous. I explained to the server (again, not her fault) that the flavor comes from the tomato being grilled WITH the sandwich. Never going back to this place.

    Scrambled Eggs and Toast
    Lydia W.

    Always a good time here!! Just wanted to add some more pics of food from my last visit in.

    Berry french toast
    Megan K.

    My go-to diner in lakeview! They have everything a diner can offer, and they don't use too much grease in their cooking. The ingredients are always fresh and their menu can accommodate many different tastes. It is always busy, but with the attentive service a table will usually open within 20 minutes of arrival. Sometimes it does take a while for someone to pour us water after sitting down as it does get so busy, but the food is amazing and it is a nice local spot.

    Spinach Spinwheels
    Jazmine P.

    Good food, great service! They had all the components of a good local diner. a full menu with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, drinks, apps, desserts, and malts/shakes! YUM!!! The diner was nicely decorated and felt very homey, family business for sure.

    Sarah P.

    Very traditional diner. Was pretty busy for a Sunday morning but the skillet I got came out fast, was delicious and I finished the whole plate! Service was kind. This was a classic experience and would come again.

    French Toast
    Diana M.

    A nice simple diner with fast service. My friend and I didn't have to wait at all when we came in on Saturday for brunch. Their French toast combo was solid and I have no complaints here!

    Dean Q.

    Closer to 3.5 stars than 3 but nonetheless felt like pretty typical diner fare. Prices are pretty competitive and I did really enjoy the bustling ambiance here. I ordered the country style Benedict and my wife got the spinach/feta omelette. The Benny was okay; eggs were a bit overdone so not as runny as I would like. The sausage gravy was watery and overall didn't really impart a ton of flavor. Which is a shame because the hash browns are basically devoid of seasoning. The best part was definitely the generous helping of country style ham, which had great texture and brought the smokiness and savoriness this dish needed. I tried the omelette but also felt pretty meh about it; had to jazz it up with a lot of hot sauce. I would probably come back and try some other items but paying your bill also annoyed us as you pay on a Square reader so you don't get a physical copy of your bill till after. We didn't know there was a service charge and then the tip was calculated post-tax and post-service charge so the total ended up being inconceivably high for two entrees and coffee. I might come back to try the egg skillets but otherwise would rather try other diners.

    Buffalo Chicken Salad (Grilled Chicken)
    Nate T.

    I love Stella's. I used to eat here on a weekly basis when I lived nearby. The service is always top notch, the food is delicious and the restaurant's atmosphere is great. Today I stopped in for lunch and got the buffalo chicken salad. It was served within 10 minutes and had a very generous helping of chicken. The others in my party got breakfast dishes (one omelette and the other scrambled eggs) and the portions were huge and looked delicious. Additionally, the waitress came by several times to ensure our waters were full and ask if we needed anything. Overall, great dining experience. I can't recommend Stella's highly enough.

    Shayan P.

    High quality ingredients, delicious, good dining experience, kind waiters, and welcoming atmosphere.

    Smoked Lox and Onion Omelet

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    3 months ago

    Most delicious cheeseburger with bacon egg and cheese. J so juicy I could have eaten another one

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    2 years ago

    Decent diner experience in Lakeview. Good service, they seat you quickly and food comes out fast.

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    Ask the Community - Stella's Diner

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    No visit to Chicago is complete without a visit to this classic eatery. For over 100 years, Lou…read moreMitchell's has been serving up the best breakfast in Chicago and if you have never heard of it, ask any Chicagoan because they know it. What you need to know is that there will be a line, it will move fast and you will be rewarded with some of the most delicious food and coffee you have ever tried. If you come during football season, it would be best not to wear any Packers, Lions, Vikings or Cardinals gear because this restaurant is very proudly, Bears' country.

    We arrived at Lou Mitchell's on a very rainy morning at about 6:45 AM. There was plenty of seating,…read morebut it was easy to see how tight it could get when busy. They have a mandatory must spend of $10 per person so instead of sharing as we usually do, we each ordered a single egg breakfast. (Chef gave us two eggs each anyway.) While that was being prepared, the restaurant staff kept my coffee cup well filled. The eggs were prepared well, my home fries crispy (my wife's less so) but the star of the show is the house made bread served toasted. So very good! Their baked items are almost a must, so take advantage! They trade heavily on the Route 66 kitch for restaurant ambiance, but since it is the Centennial for the Route, it works. They have really cool shirts for the centennial so our breakfast bill was quite high with my wife's apparel purchase. lol Overall, well worth a stop.

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    Ed Debevic's - French toast

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    Hadn't been here in years but I was downtown with my friend Connie celebrating my birthday and she…read morechose it for a fun lunch. I loved my burger on sourdough and our server "Shoe" was excellent! Very attentive and friendly despite the obnoxiousness that they're known for. I had forgotten that all the burgers come with two patties. It's a lot of meat, but fresh and with your choice of cheese and several variations. Burgers and chicken tenders/sandwiches is basically it (a few salads) but if you like a good burger you should like it. And they sang to me on my birthday and comped the tiny sundae pictured. There were 3 birthdays in the hour we were there! It's a fun place.

    We met up with our friends at a spot literally right around the corner from our hotel. We walked in…read morefairly early in the morning, and people were already eating, laughing, and having a good time. It was the perfect place for us to link up, talk about what was happening later, and figure out what we were going to get into. Listen, the entire place was a total vibe! The staff wore their retro fits and mingled with the patrons. The bright neon, the teal and turquoise walls, and the hot pink accents were phenomenal. I absolutely loved the color scheme. The black-and-white tile definitely took it back to the diners from back in the heyday. Not my day, but somebody's day, okay?! And they put on a whole show! The staff started singing "Car Wash," and listen, it was a total vibe. They are loud, okay? They might sing right up on you and have you sitting there like, "Okayyyy!!!!" But it was never disrespectful. That is simply the aura and energy they bring, and we were here for it. Every time you go out for breakfast, you don't want just a meal, okay? We were out of town, and we wanted to enjoy ourselves. We wanted an experience, and that is exactly what this place gave us. It's fun. It's retro. It's loud. It's divey. If you want somewhere quiet, this might not be the place for you. But if you want great energy, fun outfits, singing, and a lively atmosphere, go ahead and pull up! We had an absolutely great time. Again, the outfits, the aura, and the energy made the whole experience!

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    Ed Debevic's - Two eggs, any style, wheat toast,bacon, orange juice and brewed hot coffee.

    Two eggs, any style, wheat toast,bacon, orange juice and brewed hot coffee.

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    Au Cheval

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    YOOOO seriously one of the best burgers of my life! My brother recommended this spot and we came on…read morea Friday night. It was about a 30 minute wait, but it was so worth. The burgers are amazing - it has that beef tallow taste and adding the sunny side up egg was awesome. It's cooked perfectly to where the yolk is not dripping down my fingers, but just enough to where it trickles into the burger and adds another dimension of flavor. The interesting thing is that "single" patties are actually double, and "double" patties are actually triple. Not sure why they named it like that, but our server was good about making that known. Fries were solid but not as amazing as the burger. Wished they were a little thinner. Pretty small seating inside, only a couple booths, tables, and bar seating. They do have a fair sized patio for outdoor seating, so that helps with getting people in and out. Since the space is a bit compact, it can get a little noisy inside. We did paid street parking

    We'd made a lunch reservation at Au Cheval in advance, which wasn't too hard for a Monday. The…read moreinterior was smaller than I'd expected but so classic and stylish. We were seated at a comfortable booth near the window. For drinks, I chose the Citrus Ritual mocktail, which I loved - so well-made and refreshing. I also got a Single Cheeseburger with the added egg and an order of French Fries to share with my coworker. I was a bit confused because it turns out a single cheeseburger at Au Cheval is actually a double because it comes with two beef patties. Personally, I would've just preferred one. Otherwise, it was a very nice burger, but I can't say it changed my brain chemistry. The French Fries were also tasty. Service was incredibly professional, attentive, and quick. Worth the visit!

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    Welcome

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    Park View Diner - Menudo, asada taco and chillaquielles

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    You can't get good Mexican food in Chic....wait a minute !! Yes you can ! We stopped by this…read moreadorable little diner today and was greeted by the sweetest lady who introduced herself as the owner ! She kindly greeted this Houstonian and brought us some delicious coffee! A funny and very courteous gentleman took or order and continued to provide great chatter ! Then he brought out my "small" bowl of menudo -which wasn't that small and loaded with hominy and tripe! The taste before I made it my own was delightful! I tend to over do it with the limes and onions but even without it was nom nom ! The asada taco meat was seasoned so deliciously! The flour tortillas seemed to melt in my mouth! My friend ordered the chilaquiles and the order was HUGE! So she gave me like a quarter of it and the homemade chips and meat were amazing !! Even the sweet cook came and chatted and was so kind and we thanked her for a delicious meal !! I go home tomorrow but not before we stop here for another meal!

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    We stopped at Eleven City Diner before the Bears game on a Sunday, so it was definitely busy, but…read morewe were seated surprisingly fast! The inside is super fun and has so much character. It's a lively atmosphere and a great spot to start a game day. The food was the highlight. The French toast was AMAZING and unlike any French toast I've had before. Definitely something I would order again. The eggs were incredibly fluffy and light, and the bagel tasted genuinely fresh and authentic rather than like your typical breakfast bagel. There were a few things that kept it from being a 5-star experience. The bathrooms were down for about an hour, although I really appreciated how helpful the staff was and how well they kept guests updated on the situation. They were also out of Aqua Panna water. The staff was a little intense at times, and with how busy the restaurant was, we did feel slightly rushed through our meal. Overall, still a really enjoyable experience with great food and such a fun atmosphere. I'd absolutely come back, especially for that French toast! I also saw a few things we want to try next time :)

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    Stella's Diner - diners - Updated September 2026

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