Illinois’ Best Hidden Breakfast Spot Is a True Classic

When it comes to breakfast, Illinois doesn't mess around, and according to Mashed, the best "hole-in-the-wall" breakfast spot in the state proves it.

Mashed calls it a "snapshot of a lost legacy of dining." It should be; it opened back in 1937 and was rebuilt after a 2016 fire, only to "rise from the ashes like some extra crispy bacon."

READ MORE: The Best Restaurants in Rockford According to the People Who Actually Live Here

The Chicago Diner That’s Old-School to Its Core

Sitting on Irving Park Road in Chicago, this old-school counter spot is the kind of place where the coffee's always hot, the grill's always sizzling, and the menu probably hasn't changed in about 50 years.

What Diners Love Most About This Classic Illinois Breakfast Spot

Need more proof that this place is the ultimate "hole-in-the-wall" breakfast restaurant in Illinois?

One Yelp reviewer called it a "divvy diner. Win-win."

Another described the Diner Grill as a "diamond in the rough" and you'd never know how good the food is "until you go in."

READ MORE: How Many of These Rockford Restaurants Do You Remember From the 1970s?

Big Portions, Small Prices, and Endless Character

There are numerous mentions of "affordable" prices and a lot of discussion about portion size. One person even said the amount of food they got was "fat."

Lastly, Eric B. called the Diner Grill "modest" but followed it up by calling it "a sort of real-life version of the 1942 Edward Hopper painting 'Nighthawks.' It's a living museum of urban America in the 30s and 40s."

The Diner Grill proves some classics never cool off, especially when the coffee’s hot and the bacon’s crispy.