Al’s Breakfast on 14th Avenue SE in Minneapolis’s Dinkytown neighborhood has been open since 1950, operating in a space so narrow — 10 feet wide, 14 stools, no room for anything extra — that it has become as famous for its dimensions as for its pancakes. There is no room to wait inside. The line forms on the sidewalk. It appeared in Season 10, Episode 4 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “You Found ‘Em,” which aired September 20, 2010. Guy Fieri squeezed in, ordered the blueberry wheat pancakes, and called them the best pancakes he’d had on the show. The University of Minnesota community has been filling those 14 stools for over 70 years, and the pancakes have not changed.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Al’s Breakfast
City: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cuisine: Breakfast Diner / American
DDD Season: 10
DDD Episode: 4
Episode Title: You Found ‘Em
Original Air Date: September 20, 2010
Address: 413 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-331-9991
Website: https://www.alsbreakfastmpls.com
Status: Open
What to Eat
The Blueberry Wheat Pancakes are the DDD signature and what Guy called the best pancakes he’d had on the show — thick, hearty, made from scratch with whole wheat flour and loaded with fresh blueberries. The Walnut Wheat Pancakes are the other pancake variation that earns its own devoted following among regulars. The Eggs Benedict, built to order at the counter with the cook working inches from your face, are the savory centerpiece. The Hash Browns, crisped on the flat top in butter, are the side most regulars add to every order. The Daily Specials, written on the chalkboard above the counter, reflect whatever the kitchen is inspired to cook that morning — worth checking before you default to the pancakes.
Plan Your Visit
Al’s is open Monday through Saturday 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Fourteen stools, no reservations, no waiting inside. Arrive early on weekends or accept the sidewalk line as part of the experience. Compare Minneapolis hotel rates on Trivago.
Address: 413 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-331-9991
Website: https://www.alsbreakfastmpls.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the You Found ‘Em episode on Amazon and bring the pancake spirit home with Guy Fieri’s Kitchen Textiles to outfit your morning kitchen properly.
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Al’s Breakfast appeared in Season 10, Episode 4 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “You Found ‘Em,” originally aired September 20, 2010. The restaurant has been open in Dinkytown since 1950.