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Al's Cafe is an "old school" diner that's been a landmark restaurant for many years in Fresno, CA and a favorite of Fresno locals. This fine restaurant is open every day of the week, and serves both American and Mexican comfort food. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little past 07:30 in the morning, Tuesday, May 23, 2023, and I've arrived at Al's Cafe, located in Fresno, CA, to enjoy a great breakfast. Al's is noted for serving both American and Mexican food, as Fresno is at the agricultural center of California, and is a city noted for diversity and fine dining cuisine. Al's Cafe has been at the current location since 2000, and is only a couple of miles away to famous Fresno landmarks as Chaffee Zoo and Roeding Park. Prior to moving to the current location, the restaurant operated for decades downtown, near Van Ness Ave and G Street.
Photo: The photographer's reflection is captured in the photo, along with daily and weekend specials that are posted at the front door.
Photo: Al's Cafe is not posh or fancy, as it's a diner and has been a favorite of Fresno locals for decades. The floor is simple tile, but the large dining room is brightly lit, thanks to natural lighting from the many windows and the patio. Decor is simply, as the walls are decorated with photos and posters. The only thing that struck me as odd is that Al's doesn't have a counter...
Photo: Like all diners, Al's Cafe features a order pick-up window, where the friendly wait staff pick up orders from the kitchen and deliver to tables. The window decorated with hundreds of photos that customers have posted over the 23 years the restaurant has been in the current location. You can also purchase a "Al's Cafe" tee shirt, as they had several for sale.
Photo: View of the dining room, looking toward the kitchen from the patio. The dining room is large and furnished with tables and chairs, as there aren't any booths in this no-nonsense dining room. Actually, the dining room is on the shabby side, but it's clean, comfortable and Al's serves some of the best food in town! What more could you ask for?
Photo: More daily specials were posted on a white board, near the counter. You could say that Al's Cafe is "low tech," as the wait staff used note pads to take orders, and I didn't see a computer in the restaurant. I simply love the "old school" ambience!
Photo: The first page of the menu lists "Breakfast Combinations" and I went no further after I saw the "Chile Verde and Eggs" listed near the top of the menu. Al's Cafe is serious about breakfast, and their breakfast menu lists countless Mexican and American "comfort food" choices, with menudo - oh my! - served Friday through Sunday.
Photo: It was a pleasure to enjoy a glass of ice water, topped with a slice of lemon, on the enclosed patio.
Photo: Sandy, who was seating diners, takes an order for a couple, seated on the patio, at a table near me. The patio was comfortable and completely enclosed and offered a great view of Olive Avenue, along with the busy dining room.
Photo: Meet Lynette, my friendly hostess who brought my delicious breakfast to me with a smile. I enjoyed her friendly service and company, and she treated me like a rock star.
Photo: I'm a happy guy, as I'm ready to enjoy an amazing breakfast at Al's Cafe, located in Fresno. Thanks, Lynette, for snapping my photo on my request.
Photo: From the"Breakfast Combinations" section of the menu, I went with "Chile Verde and Eggs." My choice of sides were "Al's potatoes" with refried beans, along with corn tortillas. Truly a breakfast of champions! The menu states, "We proudly serve the highest quality, best tasting Black Angus beef. We serve large fresh eggs fried in butter and cooked to order. Each combination includes: your choice of Al's potatoes, golden hash browns, beans and rice, or beans and potatoes. And your choice of buttered toast, English muffin, tortillas or biscuit and gravy." The choice of sides simply dazzled and amazed me, but in the end, I went for "Al's potatoes," refried beans and corn tortillas. The "Chile Verde" was simply delicious, as it was tender, seasoned, beef, cut to the size that you see at diners in Mexico, and cooked in chile verde sauce, so all flavors worked together. The beef and the sauce was simply delicious and tasty, and not at all hot, and made for a main breakfast entrees that I will remember for a long time. "Al's potatoes" were potatoes cut into bite-size chunks, parboiled, seasoned and deep fried to a slight golden brown on the outside, but white and tender inside. The potatoes were garnished with diced green chili pepper and coated with melted, gooey American cheese, which made them truly a taste sensation. The potatoes were simply wonderful to dip into the chile verde sauce, which I think was the whole idea. The refried beans were simply spectacular and tasted like the countless refried beans I've enjoyed during my trips to Mexico, in Mexican "loncherias," or diners. I suspect the beans were fried in lard, which is a great thing. The beans weren't fancy and they didn't exhibit a flashy presentation, garnished with cheese, as they were simply "earthy" and amazingly delicious. My two fried eggs were fried in butter, as per the menu, and arrived perfectly cooked, sunnyside up, just the way I ordered them. Along with my order, a small basket with three corn tortillas and a two cups of in-house-made hot sauce was brought to my table to finish my order. I'm a "foodie" and I love breakfast, and the "Chile Verde and Eggs" breakfast I enjoyed at Al's Cafe simply elevated breakfast to another level, as this was one of the most amazing breakfasts that I've enjoyed for a long time. The Mexican influence, combined with good ol' Central California home cookin' made for an amazing combination and a fusion of the best of Mexican and American "comfort food." Such an amazing breakfast!
Photo: My breakfast of "Chile Verde and Eggs," at Al's Cafe, located in Fresno. This small diner is serious about breakfast and their breakfast menu lists all your favorites, from both sides of the border. Al's Cafe should be a destination for "foodies" and anybody who appreciates fine diner cuisine. Simply ask the Fresno locals... Comfort food, with a hearty dose of "Americana" is served at Al's Cafe, located on West Olive Ave in Fresno, CA. The food is delicious, the staff is friendly, and the dining is comfortable. For the best diner cuisine anywhere... check out Al's Cafe, located in Fresno, CA. Al's Cafe Copyright(c) 2023 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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