To kick off Greasy Spoons Week with a bacon-filled bang, we present the Twin Cities' 14 most iconic diners, complete with suggestions for what to order at each. These 14 places all offer huge portions, low prices, fluffy pancakes, crispy hashbrowns, and bottomless cups of coffee. Extra points were given for Formica tables, counter seating, and vintage decor. Most of these spots have been around for several decades, if not since the early part of the 20th century. One has had a cameo in a series of underdog-hockey movies. Many are only open for breakfast and lunch, though there are some late-night (and even 24-hour) eats, as well.
Did we miss one of your favorites? Include a diner that deeply offends you? Make your case for or against in the comments.
This Dinkytown diner is supposedly the narrowest restaurant in Minneapolis, with a width of just 10 feet. It's been serving up big breakfasts in that small space since 1950. It's open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. Order: Any kind of pancakes, but especially the blueberry.
Tony's Diner offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and two-for-one pints of Summit and Miller Lite all day (no wonder it's so popular with the college students of Dinkytown). Order: the mac n cheese wedges or the cheese curds (or both).
This downtown diner is known for its two hour weekend waits and its homemade baked goods (including cinnamon rolls, English muffins, and homemade bread for the toast). Order: the No. 2 with roast beef hash, and substitute the homemade toast for the default 12-grain.
The oldest operating diner in the state of Minnesota, the Band Box was built in the 1930s. There were once 15 Band Boxes in the Twin Cities, but now the practically hidden downtown/Elliot Park location is the last standing. Order: one of the famous burgers.
This Whittier spot is not a classic greasy spoon - nowhere with vegan options can be - but it is an Eat Street icon. Serving breakfast all day and happy hour specials in the evening, the Bad Waitress also emphasizes local and organic ingredients and sustainability in all aspects of the business. Order: the vegan vanilla milkshake (even if you're not vegan).
This Uptown staple boasts that it's the only 24-hour option in Uptown, and that's true three days a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). Order: the Country Fried Steak and Eggs.
This Uptown diner has been serving breakfast and lunch for more than 20 years. What else should you order at the Egg and I but a three-egg omelette? Order: the Everything Omelette (vegetables, bacon, ham, and cheddar cheese). The Skillet Breakfasts and Kamikaze Cakes (pancakes filled with blueberries, bananas, and nuts) are also winners.
This South Minneapolis gem has been in business since 1941, serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Order: the Kitchen Special, with pancakes instead of toast.
This Nokomis diner is known for being filled to bursting with knick-knacks and kitsch, as well as its paint-by-numbers walls. It's also known for killer breakfasts and monthly games of "Dingo" (diner bingo, we assume). Order: the Grand Marais Scramble (scrambled eggs with cream cheese and lake trout served with grilled asparagus, fried potatoes, and toast).
Don't mistake Edina's Original Pancake House with that other pancake house. This one was established in 1953, and is known for its four-egg omelets and, of course, the pancakes. Order: the bacon pancakes (bacon inside buttermilk pancakes) or the potato pancakes.
Founder Bonnie Roell passed away earlier this year after almost 40 years of running Bonnie's Café. But the beloved St. Paul breakfast spot chugs in. Order: the McBonnie (English muffins, eggs, and ham, covered in gravy and cheese).
This Grand Ave institution is beloved for its breakfasts and also for its late-night hours Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights (open until 3 a.m. on Thursday night and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday). Order: the Cajun Breakfast (hashbrowns with peppers and onions topped with cheese and over-easy eggs, Hollandaise, and Cajun seasoning).
This St. Paul landmark has been operating 7 days a week, 365 days a year for nearly 70 years. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and also made a cameo in all three Mighty Ducks movies. Order: America's Favorite All-Day Meal (eggs fried in butter, hashbrowns, buttered toast and jelly, and your choice of meat) with the strip steak or the pork chop, if you're feeling bold. Pro tip: Upgrade the hashbrowns to O'Brians.
This Dinkytown diner is supposedly the narrowest restaurant in Minneapolis, with a width of just 10 feet. It's been serving up big breakfasts in that small space since 1950. It's open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. Order: Any kind of pancakes, but especially the blueberry.
Tony's Diner offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and two-for-one pints of Summit and Miller Lite all day (no wonder it's so popular with the college students of Dinkytown). Order: the mac n cheese wedges or the cheese curds (or both).
This downtown diner is known for its two hour weekend waits and its homemade baked goods (including cinnamon rolls, English muffins, and homemade bread for the toast). Order: the No. 2 with roast beef hash, and substitute the homemade toast for the default 12-grain.
The oldest operating diner in the state of Minnesota, the Band Box was built in the 1930s. There were once 15 Band Boxes in the Twin Cities, but now the practically hidden downtown/Elliot Park location is the last standing. Order: one of the famous burgers.
This Whittier spot is not a classic greasy spoon - nowhere with vegan options can be - but it is an Eat Street icon. Serving breakfast all day and happy hour specials in the evening, the Bad Waitress also emphasizes local and organic ingredients and sustainability in all aspects of the business. Order: the vegan vanilla milkshake (even if you're not vegan).
This Uptown staple boasts that it's the only 24-hour option in Uptown, and that's true three days a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). Order: the Country Fried Steak and Eggs.
This Uptown diner has been serving breakfast and lunch for more than 20 years. What else should you order at the Egg and I but a three-egg omelette? Order: the Everything Omelette (vegetables, bacon, ham, and cheddar cheese). The Skillet Breakfasts and Kamikaze Cakes (pancakes filled with blueberries, bananas, and nuts) are also winners.
This South Minneapolis gem has been in business since 1941, serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Order: the Kitchen Special, with pancakes instead of toast.
This Nokomis diner is known for being filled to bursting with knick-knacks and kitsch, as well as its paint-by-numbers walls. It's also known for killer breakfasts and monthly games of "Dingo" (diner bingo, we assume). Order: the Grand Marais Scramble (scrambled eggs with cream cheese and lake trout served with grilled asparagus, fried potatoes, and toast).
Don't mistake Edina's Original Pancake House with that other pancake house. This one was established in 1953, and is known for its four-egg omelets and, of course, the pancakes. Order: the bacon pancakes (bacon inside buttermilk pancakes) or the potato pancakes.
Founder Bonnie Roell passed away earlier this year after almost 40 years of running Bonnie's Café. But the beloved St. Paul breakfast spot chugs in. Order: the McBonnie (English muffins, eggs, and ham, covered in gravy and cheese).
This Grand Ave institution is beloved for its breakfasts and also for its late-night hours Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights (open until 3 a.m. on Thursday night and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday). Order: the Cajun Breakfast (hashbrowns with peppers and onions topped with cheese and over-easy eggs, Hollandaise, and Cajun seasoning).
This St. Paul landmark has been operating 7 days a week, 365 days a year for nearly 70 years. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and also made a cameo in all three Mighty Ducks movies. Order: America's Favorite All-Day Meal (eggs fried in butter, hashbrowns, buttered toast and jelly, and your choice of meat) with the strip steak or the pork chop, if you're feeling bold. Pro tip: Upgrade the hashbrowns to O'Brians.
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