Hand-cut and fried to crispy-golden perfection. These hash browns are legendary among Chicagoans, often ordered as a side or incorporated into an omelette. The texture is simultaneously crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Tips from diners
Double order the hash browns and ask for them extra crispy. They're the standout side and worth the extra investment.
The award-winning jumbo omelette filled with extra smoky Greek sausage, feta cheese, and peppers. Diners consistently report that the omelettes are huge and 'excellent.' Getting it 'hobo-style' (with crispy hash browns cooked inside the omelette) makes it even more substantial. This is the omelette locals recommend most.
Tips from diners
Order it 'hobo-style' with hash browns cooked inside. This is how locals order it and it's the version most worth getting.
Fresh-baked pastry from Lou Mitchell's on-site bakery, studded with pecans and finished with glaze. A sweet ending or side to breakfast that captures the diner's homemade approach.
Tips from diners
Grab a pecan roll to-go with a coffee if you're in a rush. Still hits the spot, and it's only $6.95.
Meltaway pancakes made fresh to order. The range includes toppings like blueberries, chocolate chips, and pecans, or served plain with butter and syrup. Reviewers praise the fluffiness and simplicity. Priced from $13.50 for standard to $15.95 for specialty variations.
Tips from diners
The meltaway pancakes live up to the hype. Pair with bacon or sausage for a classic breakfast. Skip the toppings on your first visit to taste the pancakes themselves.
A refined take on Eggs Benedict featuring premium smoked salmon instead of ham. Poached eggs sit atop crispy English muffin and smoked salmon, finished with warm hollandaise. At $21, it's the most indulgent omelette-adjacent option on the menu.
Tips from diners
The Smoked Salmon Benedict is Lou's answer to upscale breakfast. Perfect for celebrating a milestone breakfast or impressing a guest.
Open since 1923, Lou Mitchell's is on the National Register of Historic Places and remains a slice of Americana. The diner sits at 565 W Jackson Blvd on the original Route 66. Breakfasts feature country fresh eggs, fluffy jumbo omelets, pancakes, waffles, and homemade pastries and breads. Breakfast is served all day. Locals and visitors alike scoooch into booths and sit at the bar for homey comfort food that never promises to be more than what it is.
Lou Mitchell's opens early (6am weekdays, 7am weekends) and closes at 2pm every day. Arrive for breakfast before 11am to experience it at its best. After lunch crowds can thin things out.
Saturday and Sunday mornings are busier than weekdays, but it's the Route 66 experience that makes it worth the wait. Come for the nostalgia and the food.
This is one of the best breakfast values in Chicago. Large portions, cheap prices, and quality ingredients. You won't find a meal cheaper than $15 here.
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