While breakfast diners aren't typically known for their remarkable pendant lighting or attention to detail, you can usually count on the server to make sure your coffee stays refilled and your pancakes, eggs, and bacon arrive piping hot.
Below is our list of essential Tucson breakfast diners.
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Though the exterior is inconspicuous, the service is surprisingly quick and efficient. Come in for the chorizo and eggs and a slice of homemade pie.
For more information, visit Ajo Cafe on Facebook.
Alice's proudly features homestyle cuisine with dishes such as a Hot Turkey Platter and Liver & Onions.
For more information, visit Alice's on Facebook.
While Baja Cafe can nail the classics, they've gained a cult following with their experimental, bold creations such as the Roadrunner 3.0 with two grilled jalapeño popper tamale cakes, New Mexican red chile sauce, sautéed fire-roasted green chilies, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms, sweet onions, two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, avocado tomatillo arbol chile sauce, and chimichurri.
For more information, visit bajacafetucson.com.
Now with five locations in Tucson, Bisbee Breakfast Club features mostly breakfast classics with a handful of Mexican-inspired creations. If you want to spend around $30 for breakfast, order the Uncle Ronnie Swanson for double meat, double eggs, and a shot of Lagavulin single malt Scotch whisky.
For more information, visit bisbeebreakfastclub.com.
Biscuits Country Cafe is as patriotic as can be with red, white, and blue everywhere. They also offer a loyalty program. Check out the Cinnabun French Toast.
For more information, visit biscuitscountrycafe.com.
A local favorite, Bobo's serves up decadent banana pancakes worth coming back for. Be warned, lines can get long on weekend mornings.
For more information, visit bobostucson.com.
Brawley's has served up breakfast for over 30 years. Though they've relocated, they're still every bit as cozy and rustic.
For more information, follow Brawley's on Facebook.
Bread & Butter Cafe
Bacon Cakes = pancakes with chopped bacon mixed in the batter. They also offer a massive selection of homemade pies.
For more information, follow Bread & Butter Cafe on Facebook.
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Even though Breakfast Stop has only been around for just a few years, they've already earned a devout following for their green corn tamales and corned beef hash.
Keep up with Breakfast Stop Family Restaurant on Facebook.
The chicken fried steak is too big to finish. But it's too good to share. Get it anyways.
Keep up with Cappy's Breakfast Cafe on Facebook.
They've got a lot of local art for sale hanging on all the walls, and be sure to try their Blintzes and Potato Latkes.
For more information, visit clairescafe.net.
Onion's the name, but home fries are their game — seasoned well with crunchy bits.
For more information, visit theoniontucson.com.
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The Egg Connection will hook you up with huge portions and hand-formed burgers.
For more information, visit theeggconnection.com.
While they offer the classics such as cinnamon rolls, they also manage to update their Facebook page twice daily with the breakfast and lunch specials.
For more information, visit Gus Balon's on Facebook.
This neighborhood diner by day becomes a Mexican food joint at night with gargantuan burros. Find your heaven with the classic French Toast.
For more information, visit franksrestaurant.com.
As "greasy spoon" as it gets. The sourdough toast is the toast to choose from. The seasonal pancakes such as Pumpkin Pancakes or Eggnog Pancakes are also worth a trip.
For more information, visit Happy Rooster Cafe on Facebook.
With double-yolks and homemade white toast, the simplest dishes become exceptional.
Keep up with the Hungry Fox on Facebook.
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Even though Jerry Bob's has multiple locations around town, they're actually local. The location at 2680 E. Valencia Rd. happens to have exceptional Chicken Tortilla Soup.
For more information, visit the Yelp listing of Jerry Bob's.
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Jethro's signature Hill Billy Pancakes feature shredded potatoes, ham, onions, and green peppers.
For more information, visit Jethro's Cafe on Facebook.
Over at "J-HOP," pancakes come aplenty and service is fabulously friendly.
For more information, visit Joe's Pancake House on Facebook.
Come for the early bird special or daily breakfast specials. Also, keep in mind that if KG's is your neighborhood diner, Dragoon is your neighborhood brewery.
For more information, visit KG's Westside Cafe on Facebook.
There's a lot to say about this spot, but most importantly, don't miss out on the banana pecan pancakes.
For more information, visit Laverna's Coffee Shop on Facebook.
While Millie's also offers traditional breakfast dishes in a comfortable environment, you'll want to try the German dishes and Russian blintzes.
Keep up with Millie's Pancake Haus on Facebook.
Having opened over 30 years ago, Old Times Kafe provides effortless nostalgia.
For more information, visit oldtimeskafe.com.
Inside the Tucson Truck Terminal (the Triple T), Omar's is the closest thing Tucson has to the diner from Pulp Fiction. The food is marvelous, too.
For more information, visit omarshiwaychef.com.
Now more than forty years old, Robert's has developed a loyal neighborhood following with its made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls, bread, and more.
For more information, visit robertstucson.com.
As you can assume from the name, this restaurant puts a Sonoran twist on brunch staples. They also have a taco drive-thru and a brand new menu.
Keep up with Sonoran Brunch Company on Facebook.
The food is a classic diner, but the vibe has the influence of a San Diego fish taco shack. Mark's Spicy Bacon Cheese Burger is a hidden gem with its fried onion petals. Raspados are also available off the menu.
For more information, visit sunnydazecafe.net.
Another option in the Catalina area, Sunny Side Up Cafe provides more of a no-frills experience.
For more information, visit Sunny Side Up Cafe on Facebook.
While the neighborhood features a few nicer breakfast joints, Viv's is more of the hole-in-the-wall diner staff knows everybody's names. The Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich with green chiles and jack cheese is one of their signature items.
Keep up with Viv's Cafe on Facebook.
Know of one or two essential Tucson breakfast diners we missed? Let us know!
[This article was originally written on May 2, 2019 and was most recently updated on June 8, 2021.]
Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran's Fats. Although he...
