The 21 best diners in Chicago

Thinking of spending your Sunday morning at this classic Chicago diner? Better check the weather: The line snakes out the door and onto Lou Mitchell Way well into the afternoon. Customers are treated to fresh, sugar-dusted doughnut holes when they're seated, but the real feast starts after ordering. Stacks of “meltaway” pancakes are perfectly browned, omelettes come in hot skillets (try the sweet, rich apple-and-cheese variety) and juicy, gooey patty melts seem too big to finish. But as with the rest of the irresistible dishes, you’ll find a way.

There are no seats here—just stools. There’s barely a menu, either. The burgers are thin little things, but stacked up two or three on a bun, they’re exactly what you come to diners for: food that’s hot, greasy, cheesy and cheap. First-timers should order the famous slinger, which is a mess of hashbrowns, two cheeseburger patties, grilled onions and eggs all smothered in house-made chili. It's not pretty, but damn if it won't keep you full for days to come.

Hogsalt Hospitality’s vintage-yet-modern diner is one of the most popular spots in town. Folks wait in line for hours to try the ballyhooed burger, which lives up to the hype (make sure to order it with bacon), but don’t overlook the rest of the menu. The fried bologna sandwich is similarly satisfying, the fried chicken arrives covered in sweet and tangy “General Jane’s” sauce and the potato hash with duck heart gravy is well worth the calories.

Even carnivores know Chicago Diner. The vibe is normal, everyday diner, albeit with soy milk, tofu and tempeh on the giant menu. Waits for weekend brunch can get painful (even though the menu is served daily), but patient non-meat-eaters are rewarded with vegan cinnamon rolls. Of the non-brunch options, the tofu and veggie-packed soul bowl is a healthy pick, and if you still have room, try the pumpkin chocolate cheesecake or the thick, perfect milkshakes for dessert.

The waitress calls you doll, hun or honey. You’ll let her call you whatever she wants if it means getting some of the best diner food in town. A scoop of soft butter and warm syrup transforms a stack of plain pancakes, and they’re flanked by the city’s only diner bacon worth its fat.

Omelets and club sandwiches will never go out of style, but a little variety never hurts. At this cozy Filipino kitchen in West Town, the focus is on homey Southeast Asian specialties. You’ll enjoy rice plates with proteins such as marinated skirt steak, bangus (marinated milkfish), longanisa (sweet sausage) and tocino (cured pork), as well as complimentary bowls of rice porridge. No worries if you just want some eggs and bacon, though—American breakfast options are available too.

This new-wave Wicker Park diner from One Off Hospitality offers southern-inspired Mexican eats in a groovy, ’70s-homaging space. There's almost always a wait list going at the front counter (especially on the weekends), but diner stools turn over quickly. No one leaves hungry with menu options like the burnt ends hash and the chicken fried chicken, and no meal is complete without the breakfast magarita with blueberry puree. The luncheonette now does more than just lunch—stop by "after dark" on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays for crispy pork milanese or steak frites.

Although it relocated across the street in 2019, Daley's is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, having been in operation since 1892. But there’s no time for this homey diner to dwell on the past—the space bustles with a mix of Woodlawn locals and University of Chicago students, especially in the mornings, when they gather for the ethereal Belgian waffles (offered with a side of juicy chicken wings), hearty Denver omelettes and warm, buttery biscuits.

After a decade-long stint in West Loop, Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard moved her old school-inspired diner to the Southport Corridor. With breakfast served all day, guests can dig into Bull's Eye French Toast with eggs, fried chicken and barbecue maple syrup or Fat Elvis pancakes. Add on creamy grits, hash browns, milkshakes and more to complete your meal.

Located near the University of Chicago, this breezy diner keeps hungry students and Hyde Park residents fueled up with a selection of Southern fare from Lillie’s Q chef Charlie McKenna. Drop in morning, day or night for comforting classics like biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, fried catfish and chicken fried steak. It’s counter-service so those in a rush needn’t worry about running late. If you do have some time to kill, though, Roux also offers a small list of alcoholic beverages.

Born in 1995, this colorful, retro spot feeds hungry Wicker Parkers 365 days a year. Like many great diners, you can always order breakfast items such as crepes, skillets, pancakes and eggs. The rest of the menu covers serious ground with salads, steaks, sandos, banana splits and so much more. It also has its own parking lot, a big plus considering the area.

Owner Brad Rubin scoured the country to research this Jewish deli/diner. His pastrami is tender, fatty and full of flavor; the milkshakes are thick and oversized; matzo balls are enormous; and the brisket is good enough that any grandmother would want to claim it, Jewish or not.

This family-owned greasy spoon boasts two locations (Edgewater and Lincoln Square) and offers all of the usual suspects—skillets, patty melts, omelets—along with Grecian specialties like broiled chicken. It's not reinventing the wheel, but Alexander's is a reliable spot for when you need an early morning pick-me-up.

This Filipino-Cuban fusion diner spun off from its tasting menu sister, Bayan Ko, in 2024. Filipino breakfast staples take center stage in the daytime, including silog with house-made tocino, longanisa and bangus. For something a big heartier, stop by during dinner hours for lechon kawali and ropa vieja.

Along with the revival of Ramova Theatre, Bridgeport's historic Ramova Grill was resurrected as well in 2024. Modernized as a taproom with beverages from Other Half Brewing, the diner still boasts its classic beef chili, plus new items like duck fat corndogs and bulgogi sliders. Don't miss out on the nightly happy hour from 8pm-10pm, when you can get $2 off select drinks and $3 off burgers.

A slightly menacing-looking fist clutching eating utensils sits above the entrance to this Lakeview spot. Fortunately, things are more pleasant in the perpetually busy dining room—a surefire sign that the cooking’s good. The extensive menu includes everything from stuffed French toast and skillets to meatloaf and smothered chicken. You may be in a food coma at the end of your meal, but don’t go home without trying a marvelous shake or malt.

Boasting three locations, Huck Finn has been a late-night staple on the South Side for decades. Only the Oak Lawn outpost is currently open 24/7 but you can still get breakfast for dinner as late as 9pm at the Chicago restaurants. For dessert, grab one of the humongous donuts to share (you can even get it topped with ice cream and whipped cream).

The wise-cracking waitstaff at this Disney-esque diner is as much a part of its gimmick as the retro memorabilia and music.  While the food may take a backseat to the experience itself, you can’t go wrong with the classic burger, french fries and gravy, and kitschy-cool desserts like the world’s smallest ice-cream sundae (basically a shot glass–sized portion).

Ann Sather is not the best dinner, lunch or breakfast in town. It may not even be the best diner food. But that doesn’t matter, because Ann Sather has the sweetest cinnamon rolls in the Midwest. If you must, you can order some “real” food—crab cakes Benedict for brunch won’t disappoint, and neither will Swedish specialties, such as the roasted duck with lingonberry glaze. But let’s get real: You’re only after those fluffy cinnamon rolls, which arrive too big for the plate and submerged under warm icing. Luckily for you, they come with almost every order.

Craving crepes? You got it. Pining for pancakes? Eggy's serves those, too. Hankering for something healthy? Choose from a Greek yogurt parfait or steel-cut oats. With Eggy's mile-long menu, we could go on for days, but here's one reason to really love this modern Loop diner: The kids' menu is packed with affordable choices for your little ones, including silver dollar pancakes, mini waffles and a melty grilled cheese.

People go to other diners for greasy bacon and eggs, fatty hamburgers and limp french fries. But they come to this one, a tiny charming room whose walls are covered with ’50s-era nostalgia, for food they can watch being made to order in the open kitchen. Sitting at the long counter, you can witness the eggs being cracked for your fluffy omelette, the batter being stirred for your thin and airy pancakes, and the meat being sliced for your ribeye steak hash.