Al's Breakfast
8.1Friend Score / 10#8 of 15 Restaurants in Minneapolis
Known forBacon wafflesEggs BenedictHash brownsOmelettes
Al's Breakfast is a 14-stool, ten-foot-wide diner in Dinkytown that's been slinging blueberry pancakes and hash browns since 1950 — a James Beard America's Classic and maybe the most charming breakfast in the Midwest. A friend would insist you go. Caveats: cash only, and you'll stand behind seated strangers waiting for a stool.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Sat 06:00–13:00 Sun–Sun 09:00–13:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | METRO Green Line, East Bank station (about a 10-minute walk) |
| Time needed | 1-1.5 hours including the wait |
| Best time to go | Weekdays right at 6 am open or mid-morning; weekend waits can hit 45+ minutes |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.1/10- Value8.5
- iconic8.0
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level4.5
- Authenticity9.5
- Accessibility7.0
Frequently asked questions
- Is Al's Breakfast cash only?
- Yes — cash (or a personal check, charmingly). There's no card reader, so hit an ATM before you come. Budget modestly; almost everything on the menu is diner-cheap.
- Is Al's Breakfast worth the hype?
- Yes, with the right expectations: it's cramped, loud, fast, and the food is great diner food, not fine dining. You go for the whole experience — the banter, the shared syrup, the 1950 time capsule. That part over-delivers.
- Can I take a group to Al's Breakfast?
- Keep it to two, maybe three people. With 14 stools, groups rarely sit together, and a party of five essentially breaks the system. It's the perfect solo or duo breakfast.
- Why is Al's Breakfast famous?
- It's been operating in the same ten-foot-wide Dinkytown storefront since 1950, won a James Beard America's Classics award, and has fed generations of U of M students. It's the rare famous place that hasn't changed to meet its fame.
- How does the wait work at Al's Breakfast?
- There are only 14 stools, so you literally stand along the wall behind the people eating and shuffle down as stools open. It sounds awkward; it's actually part of the fun. Weekends can run 30-45+ minutes, weekdays much less.
- What should I order at Al's?
- Blueberry or wally blue pancakes are the legend, and the hash browns are the other thing people cross town for. The José (hash browns, eggs, cheese, salsa) is the regulars' pick if you want savory.
- How do I get to Al's without a car?
- Green Line to East Bank station, then a ten-minute walk into Dinkytown. Street parking in Dinkytown exists but is metered and competitive — transit or biking is genuinely easier.
- What are Al's Breakfast's hours?
- Monday-Saturday 6 am to 1 pm, Sunday 9 am to 1 pm. Breakfast only — when the flat-top shuts off at 1, that's it for the day.
Nearby in Ask Minneapolis
- DinkytownNeighborhood0.02 km · 0 min walk
- Weisman Art MuseumMuseum0.84 km · 11 min walk
- Father Hennepin Bluffs ParkPark1.32 km · 17 min walk
- Stone Arch BridgeLandmark1.33 km · 17 min walk
- Dangerous Man BrewingBar1.38 km · 17 min walk
Where to stay near Al's Breakfast
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