Lou Mitchell's

Uncle Lou’s father started the Chicago family diner in 1923 specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes. The family restaurant was later turned over to his son, Lou Mitchell.

Enough fresh eggs have been cracked, made into omelets, cooked in skillets and sold for breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s to go side-by-side more than a few times around the world. We’ve poured enough cups of our signature coffee to fill the Chicago River and our delicious pancakes could fill Wrigley field. And to think, it all started with one man’s food dream in Illinois.

The man was “Uncle” Lou Mitchell. His graciousness, friendliness, hospitality and consistent quality, soon had droves of hungry Chicago diners standing in line not only for breakfast but also one of his famous home-cooked lunch specials and fresh char-grilled burgers.

The fun part of Lou Mitchell’s magic formula was added one day in 1958 when the restaurant began offering breakfast diners donut holes. A tradition was set in place and since that day, millions of donut holes and boxes of milk duds have been given out to our fabulous customers.

The news of this spectacular diner spread quickly and patrons flocked from all around the world to try Lou Mitchell’s homemade food: England, France, Germany, and Italy...patrons traveled miles to see the signature Chicago restaurant.

Today Lou Mitchell’s is not only a classic Chicago icon, but our food is recognized both nationally and internationally with endless accolades. Among the list are USA Today, American Way, newspapers, magazines, food critics, television. “It’s a must see place.”