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Lou Mitchell's
Chicago's legendary breakfast diner serving Route 66 nostalgia and award-winning comfort food since 1923.
4.2(5 reviews)
restaurant
$$
Chicago's legendary breakfast diner serving Route 66 nostalgia and award-winning comfort food since 1923.
Lou Mitchell's is a historic, family-operated diner in Chicago, famous for its classic American breakfast and brunch. Located near Union Station, it offers a warm, old-school atmosphere with fluffy pancakes, Greek omelettes, freshly baked toast, and complimentary doughnut holes with orange marmalade. A Michelin-nominated spot, it's a must-visit for travelers and locals seeking authentic, hearty meals with a side of tradition.
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Hearty options like corned beef hash, fluffy eggs, and award-winning hash browns served hot and fresh.
Freshly baked, thick-sliced toast made in-house, a signature item perfect with meals or as a side.
Award-winning coffee refilled promptly, offering a rich and traditional diner experience.
Free doughnut holes with orange marmalade and ice cream after meals, adding a sweet touch to your visit.
Fast, efficient service in a cozy, nostalgic setting ideal for groups and solo diners alike.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of the breakfast, but those home-fries were the best I ever had. Loved the thin slices of potatoes. They were delicious!! They also give you a small serving of complimentary ice cream after your meal. 😊
This is a very popular breakfast spot. I first walked past the restaurant and noticed a long line outside, after found out it had received a Michelin nomination in 2018, I decided to come back another day. I arrived at around 9 a.m. and was lucky enough to avoid the line, although the restaurant was already very crowded and became even busier around 10. Because of the crowd, it took some time for the waitress to serve me. I asked what was included in the Greek omelette, but instead of just explaining, she suggested that I order it and took my menu away. Given how busy it was and how many options were on the menu, I understood that she was trying to speed things up. The omelette itself was good: the eggs were fluffy and the sausages were well seasoned. It came with a slice of toast and potato chips, which was more than enough—I was very full afterward. The restaurant claims to serve award-winning “Gold Cup” coffee, so I paid $3.65 to try it. While the waitstaff refilled it promptly, I found the coffee quite ordinary. The orange juice, on the other hand, was excellent, though it cost $6. As more people lined up outside, it became obvious that the restaurant was understaffed. After finishing my meal, I waited nearly 20 minutes just to receive the check. I had planned to order some donuts to go, but no one was available to take my order. What surprised me most was the checkout process: instead of letting customers write in a tip, the cashier asked directly for a tip and even encouraged a higher amount. This was the first time I felt a restaurant forcing me to tip, which was awkward and honestly made me want to tip less—especially given the slow service. The restaurant is quite small, so customers often have to wait outside. The interior atmosphere is pleasant, but the space feels even more crowded because it’s located near Union Station and many diners bring their luggage inside. There is only one coat hanger, making it difficult to store jackets, so I had to keep mine on while eating. Overall, the prices are on the high side, and the food is not worth waiting 30 minutes in cold weather. My advice is to come early to avoid the line.
Great place, great people, GREAT food at reasonable prices compared to others. An authentic feel of the 50s/60s close to the route 66. A lady from Dallas with great tattoos looked after us. Thank you. Check opening times and days, absolutely worth a visit! Mark and Mandy UK
There was a brief wait, we were seated within five minutes. It's truly a family operated restaurant. All parties must be present and in line before they will offer a table. It helps to look over the menu before seating. Once seated drink orders were taken, served, doughnut hole w/orange, and orders taken within five minutes. This restaurant is a well run operation. The food was served within ten minutes and served hot. We ordered corn beef hash, eggs, and potatoes. The fluffy egg whites, potatoes, and toast. The hash browns are thinly sliced well cooked potatoes served in a heaping pile. We were served four over easy eggs topped on the corned beef. The orange maramalade is freshly made. It's a great accompaniment for the doughnut hole. Overall, great dining experience.
I went to Lou Mitchell’s in Chicago and the food was nostalgic in the best way — the pancakes were fluffy, the Greek and raisin toast freshly baked, and the omelette (with hash browns mixed in) felt satisfying. I did notice the bacon wasn’t as crisp as I like, and on a busy weekend the wait to be seated was longer than I expected. The atmosphere is warm, charming, and steeped in history; it really feels like an old-school diner with character. Overall, it was delicious enough that I’d recommend it, especially if you enjoy comfort breakfast food with a side of tradition.
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