City: Minneapolis, MN

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (612) 331-9991

Address: 413 14th Ave. SE

Description: This tiny hole-in-the wall near the University of Minnesota has been serving customers since the 1940s. It has been called the “narrowest restaurant in the Twin Cities,” and when visiting this counter-seating-only diner, you’ll quickly see why. College students and folks from the neighborhood have been known to line up around the block waiting for the place to open or to get a seat. Eggs, hash browns, and pancakes are served, as well as exotic omelets, many of which are named after Al’s patrons or employees. Al’s is open for breakfast and lunch (serving dishes off the breakfast menu) daily. Al’s is a Twin Cities institution, and if you don’t mind the wait or the grease, get your day started at Al’s. Al’s has no Web site, accepts no credit cards, and in various other ways declines to acknowledge that the world has much changed since World War II. That’s why people love it.