Ten feet wide, 14 stools, and a kitchen smaller than your average walk-in closet. Welcome to a Minnesota breakfast spot that clearly never got the memo about needing space to make it big.
Those 14 stools? Original. The building?
A former hardware store storage shed squeezed into an alley. Who would’ve guessed a storage shed had breakfast ambitions?
Fast-forward a few decades, and this tiny breakfast joint has a James Beard award to its name. Quite the career change for a place that used to store tools.
And here’s the kicker. No freezer, no deep fryer, no microwave. Everything’s made from scratch, right when you order it.
Meanwhile, my kitchen has all three appliances, and I’m still losing the pancake competition to a former shed.
The Skinniest Restaurant In Town Is Worth Every Tight Squeeze
Al’s Breakfast holds the title of narrowest restaurant in Minneapolis. It measures roughly ten feet across, which is about the width of a decent parking spot.
There’s no dining room hiding in the back. You get one long counter and 14 stools lined up like dominoes.
That layout shapes everything about a visit. You’ll likely sit elbow-to-elbow with strangers, and the cook works right in front of you.
Staff may ask you to slide down a stool or two. That shuffle helps fit new parties together, so go with the flow and scoot.
The building itself dates back to 1937. It first served as a storage shed for a hardware store, squeezed into an alley between larger buildings.
Al Bergstrom opened the diner there in 1950. Picking a former shed for a restaurant sounds wild, but the gamble clearly paid off.
Big groups should plan carefully. Fourteen seats fill fast, and splitting up along the counter is normal here.
Solo diners and pairs have the easiest time grabbing spots. Think of it as breakfast with a side of brand-new neighbors.
Pancakes Here Come With Some Seriously Fun Choices
Blueberries and walnuts walk into a pancake. That’s the Wally Blues, and it’s one of the most popular orders at Al’s Breakfast.
The pancake recipe goes all the way back to founder Al Bergstrom. It’s original, and the kitchen still makes the batter from scratch.
You can pick buttermilk or whole wheat batter. Then you choose add-ins like blueberries, walnuts, or even corn kernels.
Corn in a pancake might raise an eyebrow. It also might become your new favorite thing, so don’t rule it out.
Sizes keep things simple. A short stack brings two, a regular brings three, and a long stack brings four.
Toppings can include sour cream or strawberries. Sour cream on pancakes sounds unusual, but it’s a classic diner move worth trying once.
Hungry but indecisive? Start with a short stack so you have room for eggs or hash browns on the side.
Sharing is tricky at a single counter. Ordering your own plate saves everyone from awkward fork reaching across neighbors.
Crispy Hash Browns And Hearty Hash Deserve Your Attention
Potatoes get star treatment at this Dinkytown counter. Hash browns land on the plate with a crisp finish straight off the grill.
No deep fryer exists in this kitchen. Everything crisps up the old-fashioned way, on the flat-top right in front of the counter.
Corned beef hash is another big draw. It’s a homemade blend of corned beef, hash browns, onions, and peppers.
Expect a hearty, potato-heavy plate. It’s the kind of breakfast that carries you well past lunchtime.
Hash browns also show up as the base for the Jose. That dish stacks poached eggs over hash browns with salsa and cheddar.
Want to build your own plate? Pair hash browns with eggs and bacon for a classic diner lineup.
Watching the cook work the grill is half the entertainment. You sit so close that you basically get a front-row cooking show.
Just keep your elbows tucked while you eat. Your neighbor is about one fork-length away, and they want their potatoes too.
Scrambles With Names That Sound Like Old Friends
The Leonard. The Grina. The Spike.
These sound like members of a bowling league, but they’re actually scrambles on the menu.
The Leonard mixes cheddar, tomato, and sausage. It’s a comforting, no-fuss pick for anyone easing into the morning.
The Grina features kosher salami and onions. Fun fact: it shares a name with former co-owner Doug Grina.
The East Bank omelet brings hot pepper cheese, black olives, and tomatoes. The Spike goes with cheddar, garlic, and mushrooms for a bolder bite.
Then there’s Huevos ala Minnesota. It combines onions, green peppers, and banana peppers for a little zip.
Jelly omelets also appear on the menu. That one’s for anyone who likes breakfast with a sweet streak.
Every egg dish gets made to order. With no microwave in the building, nothing gets reheated in a hurry.
Not sure what to pick? Choose based on your heat tolerance, since East Bank and the banana pepper option lean spicier.
Either way, your eggs arrive straight from the grill a few feet away.
Eggs Benedict And French Toast Steal Plenty Of Spotlight
Homemade hollandaise changes the whole Benedict game. At Al’s Breakfast, it’s lemony and poured over poached eggs, ham, and an English muffin.
Customizing is part of the fun. Ask for a bacon benny if you’d rather swap in bacon.
French toast is a signature item here too. It’s made with homemade batter and cooks up golden, crispy, and custard-like.
Choosing between these two might be the hardest decision of your morning. Savory fans should grab the Benedict, while sweet fans lean toward the toast.
Waffles round out the sweet side. Options include bacon waffles and the Wally Waffle loaded with walnuts.
Bacon baked right into a waffle feels like a breakfast cheat code. It saves you from ordering a separate side, at least in theory.
Got a friend along? You could each order one and trade a bite, as long as the stool shuffle keeps you seated together.
Everything comes from scratch. That’s a big promise for a kitchen this small, and it keeps the food honest.
Bring Cash Or Bring Regret
Credit cards won’t help you here. Al’s Breakfast runs on a cash-only policy, though personal checks are accepted too.
Plan ahead before you head out. Grabbing cash first keeps you from losing your place in line.
Regulars have another option worth knowing. Meal books let frequent customers prepay for their food.
That system dates back to the 1950s. It’s charmingly old-school, like a tab built on trust between diner and neighbors.
Meal books also show up in the merch lineup. They could make a clever gift for a coffee-loving friend near campus.
Speaking of merch, there’s plenty to take home. Options include T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, winter hats, window decals, and coffee.
A winter hat feels especially fitting for a Minnesota diner. Cold mornings in Minneapolis are no joke, after all.
The house coffee comes as Al’s Breakfast Blend. Inside, refills are free, so you can keep sipping while you enjoy the scene.
Toss a few extra bills in your pocket. Future you will appreciate it when the souvenirs start calling.
Awards Hang Right Behind Your Coffee Cup
In 2004, this tiny counter earned a James Beard Foundation award. It landed in the America’s Classics category, honoring beloved, long-running restaurants.
The medal hangs behind the counter. You can admire it while waiting for your pancakes.
More recognition followed years later. In July 2023, Reader’s Digest named it the most iconic diner in Minnesota.
Television noticed too. The diner appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, bringing plenty of new eyes to Dinkytown.
Ownership has changed hands over the decades. Today, Alison Kirwin owns and operates Al’s Breakfast, carrying on the diner’s decades-long tradition.
Here’s a fun history bit. Al Bergstrom originally served breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but switched to a breakfast-only menu in 1961.
That decision turned out pretty smart. Seventy-plus years of pancakes later, breakfast clearly became the winning focus.
The walls and shelves hold plenty of history. Spend a moment looking around before your food arrives.
Not many award winners started as storage sheds. This one wears its success with zero fuss and a lot of grill smoke.
Timing Your Dinkytown Visit Makes All The Difference
Early birds get the stools. Doors open at 6 AM Monday through Saturday, and at 9 AM on Sunday.
Every day wraps up at 1 PM. That means no late lunches, so set an alarm if needed.
You’ll find Al’s Breakfast at 413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414. It sits in Dinkytown, close to the University of Minnesota.
Lines are common, especially on weekends. Many people treat the wait as part of the whole experience.
Weekday mornings can be a smarter bet for groups. Fewer crowds mean better odds of sitting near each other.
Check the holiday calendar too. The diner closes on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.
Planning a celebration? Private parties can be arranged for afternoons or Sunday mornings, with room for up to 14 guests.
Booking the whole counter sounds like a dream for a birthday breakfast. Everyone gets a stool, and nobody needs to scoot.
Dress warmly in a Minnesota winter, bring cash, and arrive hungry for history served hot.