Amie Kirby
Best breakfast in MN (seriously). Old fashioned and traditional with fun and different food options. The line is always long and out the door, but worth the wait. Staff is extremely attentive and friendly. We visit Al’s every chance we get.
… moreJane Choi
Al’s is a vibe. I go super early in the morning to avoid the crowd. I usually get the Jose but the scrambled egg and cheese is awesome. I love this place. People are nice and it is a good atmosphere. The hash browns are cooked beautifully.
… moreMark Eidsen
A Minneapolis classic. If you’re trying to go with any sort of group, go early on a week day. Otherwise, expect to wait and have those who are up to bat stand right behind you. It’s not a family friendly spot but it’s the grunge breakfast experience that everyone has to try at least once. The food is good, the workers are great, and the unique experience unmatched.
… moreKatie Dee
Probably the best pancakes I’ve ever had (and each pancake is the size of the plate!) We had a short stack of blackberry pancakes, poached egg with corned beef hash, and eggs Benedict. All were delicious. Coffee was good and free refills, but you feel like you shouldn’t sit and linger. It’s a little pricey for the portions but what isn’t these days? Glad to support a local institution. The staff were super friendly, and I thought it was charming how when a couple came in, the people who were seated were asked to scooch down a seat to make room for them to sit together. Al’s is upfront about what it is, and most of the negative reviews are just mad that it’s not something else.
… moreUbah Malin
I wish I could give this place zero stars, but the system won’t allow it. I’ve visited this restaurant twice, and while I generally felt welcomed during both visits, today’s experience left me disappointed. My friend clearly requested that our food be fully segregated from any pans or cooking surfaces used for pork products, and we confirmed this again at the counter. We strictly do not eat pork for religious reasons, so this request was very important to us.
I watched the cooking process, and unfortunately, there was no effort made to honor what we asked for. Although the eggs were cooked separately, the rye, pancake, and hashbrowns were prepared on the same surfaces used for pork and placed on the same plate. When we brought this up, the older gentleman taking the order simply said, “It got wiped,” which is not proper sanitization when dealing with pork residue. Since our original order was not remade or adjusted, we decided to order a waffle instead, as it is prepared in a separate pan in the back.
In the end, we could only eat the eggs and the waffle and left feeling disappointed and disregarded. Again, we did feel generally welcome as customers—but not when it came to how our order and our dietary needs were handled.
I truly hope management takes this feedback seriously. No customer should have to struggle to have their dietary and religious needs respected, especially when they communicate them clearly.
… moreSturla Sigurðarson
Stumbling into Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown I was greeted with a cardbox cutout sign informing me that this diner is cash only. My kind of place. I stood there for a while, waiting for a seat to free up. I didn’t mind that at all, I just stood there a while looking around this tiny place. In the end I got seated and immediately got poured an honest cup of hot coffee. Black as midnight. I ordered up an omelette with toast, which I thoroughly enjoyed and got many refills on my coffee and chatted a bit with a stranger on my right hand side. Great no-nonsense atmosphere of a place that knows where it stands and does what it does and does it good. I quickly realised this ain’t a place I could sit and daydream for too long, so I finished up and payed with a rustling bill. I’ll be back one day, Al
… moreCharlotte Chamberlain
Very nice place for breakfast! Their fried potato patties are so juicy and tasty! Had a great time with my classmates here while discussing our school work.
… moreMahsa Hemmat
Al’s Breakfast in Dinky Town offers a delightful dining experience with its fresh and tasty winter special and sausage scrambles, complemented by delicious whole wheat toast and endlessly refillable coffee. The buttermilk pancakes are fluffy, though slightly salty. The cozy, quintessentially American atmosphere adds to the charm, making it a recommended spot. Plus, the prices are quite affordable, adding to its appeal.
… moreWillow
Heard about Al’s and finally got around to trying it. The inside is very narrow and there’s only barstool seating. If people come in to wait, they will be standing directly behind you. The decor is quirky and it’s definitely a unique dining experience. This isn’t a good place for large parties or a long sit down meal. Overall I was underwhelmed by the food, breakfast was $30 for 2 people (we didn’t even order drinks) and i found the portions small for the price and the food just average. Of course this place is an institution and you go for the quirkyness but the was food nothing special.
… moreToofDocta
We are from out of state and wanted to bring my son this unique place before a Gopher’s game, but learned that they still ONLY accepts cash!? We would’ve loved to support this small business and they easily could’ve earned at least $100 from our visit. It’s about to be 2026 people! Less and less people carry and use cash anymore! I am also a small business owner and I know why the owners prefers to not offer the usage of credit or debit cards. But if the owners would spend a day researching on Credit Card processing companies, then they would learn that many do offer $0 processing fees and pass that fee onto the customers. As a customer, I have also been to MANY businesses that pass the 3% CC fee onto us and we’re OK with that! You want your business to grow or more profit in your pockets, then update yourselves to 2026 and accept debit and credit cards! You may have great food, but you are lacking in technology and opportunity to service.
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