Big Joe's 8

Big Joe's is a classic American diner with brunch, lunch and dinner options. There are wall specials by the counter. My pick was the Joe's Burger $18. It took about 15 minutes for it to come out. This was a good burger, 1/2 pound patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, bacon, avocado and Jack cheese. It doesn't come with onions. Service was excellent as the restaurant was mostly empty at 7pm.

I had an excellent meal at Big Joe’s 8 Broiler, and I can’t wait to go back! I tried the BLT with curly fries, the New York steak sandwich, and the classic grilled ham & cheese - all hearty, flavorful, and served hot. The BLT had crisp bacon and fresh veggies, and the curly fries were perfectly seasoned and fun to eat. The steak sandwich was tender with a great char, and the grilled ham & cheese hit the comfort food spot. Service was friendly and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The diner has a cozy, casual atmosphere with a true local-favorite vibe. Seating is easy to find even at midday, and parking is convenient nearby. Prices are very reasonable for generous portions.

Chicken fried steak! Really good! Hash brown was crispy as well as the chicken fried steak! Tasty gravy! Love that they don't skimp on the butter on the English muffin! Thanks!

Lovely old school atmosphere and delicious food. Service was super lovely and we were delighted to have this experience just before going to the airport. Excellent 👌

Amazing food! Had the ABC omelet with hash browns & English muffin. It was excellent with the bacon crispy and the avocado fresh. The service was friendly and went above and beyond making us homemade chocolate milk.

Great omelets! I ordered the Farmer’s omelet (bottom left and top right; also pictured is the ABC omelet), and it came with hash browns and toast. They gave a very generous serving of the hash browns, and though it needed some salt, it was delicious!

Today March 30, 2024: Big Joe's is a true culinary gem that never fails to impress! From their unbeatable Weekend Special breakfast featuring mouthwatering steak and eggs to their top-notch dinner menu, this place has it all. During my recent visit, I savored every bite of the ribeye steak and eggs special – the portions were generous, the steak perfectly cooked, and the flavors simply unforgettable. The addition of Cholula sauce took it to the next level! What sets Big Joe's apart is not just their incredible food but also the warm and attentive service you receive from the moment you walk in. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot for a delightful meal any time of day. I can't wait to explore more of their menu, especially the renowned prime rib! If you're on the hunt for a dining experience that combines quality, flavor, and charm, look no further than Big Joe's. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! Don't wait too long to visit – this place is a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered by all food enthusiasts. Check them out and treat your taste buds to something truly special! PeterK What's the secret menu? Sure, I ordered the eggs with sausage, hash browns, sourdough toast, and coffee. I plan to order again! But what I want to order is hand printed on the board: dinner menu items Wed-Sunday! I want to try the prime rib! All the menu items (need to see the current board for specials) look tempting, and I've had their New York streak, yum, and I look forward to the prime rib! Note, Parking in front and back with back door access. Excellent service. Ok, the bathroom, is a bit smelly. A week later...OMG! A hidden gem of gems! I thought breakfast rocked! This low-key diner kicks butt! Friendly, excellent service, food quality, food quantity! I ordered the cajun prime rib with potatoes and vegetables (16 oz slab of beef, "medium"). Potatoes melt in your mouth, and the veggies are cooked perfect, just beyond "al dente." Yum! They serve beer and wine, and the house cabernet works excellently! Note: call ahead to get the latest specials being served! Enjoy! I look forward to ordering the other specials! 8/20/2023 Experience unparalleled authenticity at Big Joe's 8, renowned for generous servings, and genuinely prioritize meaningful interactions and customer satisfaction with each meal served. Big Joe's 8 is a time-honored diner, boasting an interior that resonates with delightful nostalgia, but it has golden-quality service that truly sets Big Joe’s 8 apart! Equipped with comfortable counter seating and robust chairs, their accommodating tables and booths will comfortably fit all. A huge appreciation goes to the stellar team that maintains the spirit of Big Joe's 8, mainly to Jesús, Saúl, and Lorena, who continuously uphold the diner’s valued tradition of exceptional service. Meeting such dedicated people is part of what makes the Big Joe's 8 experience extraordinary.

If you have a big appetite, this place is perfect, as the servings are pretty big. Great staff; friendly and attentive. This place seems to have a lot of regulars—nice to see. Very homey. Love my dish, even if I didn’t expect it to be so much!

What a gem. This is a hole in the wall of decident delicious selections of foods that you will sincerely enjoy. Yummmmmmy

Placed an order for pickup which included burgers, steak sandwiches, and chicken fried steak. Our order was ready within the 20 minutes it took us to get there. Everyone enjoyed their burgers. The steak in the sandwich was flavorful. Good sized portions for the price. Maybe just wished they vented the boxes so the fries stayed crispy.

Big Joe's is a classic American diner with brunch, lunch and dinner options. There are wall specials by the counter. My pick was the Joe's Burger $18. It took about 15 minutes for it to come out. This was a good burger, 1/2 pound patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, bacon, avocado and Jack cheese. It doesn't come with onions. Service was excellent as the restaurant was mostly empty at 7pm.

Had another great experience, this time we tried their breakfast and it didn't disappoint. They will continue to get my support on the coming years.

We came for a late breakfast around 11 AM on a Monday - my grandpa owned the location in the 1970s but now lives in another state so we brought him to visit his old cafe. We'd been here before but didn't know this was the spot! We got to chat with the current owner Jesus, and Lorena, who were very friendly and we'll be happy to bring him back for breakfast every time he visits. Aside from that fun fact, the food was all delicious and is provided in very generous portions. It's definitely comfort food in a relaxed diner setting. Some people came to enjoy a shared breakfast, others to work on laptops with their meals, and some taking a break from work, so it seemed like a nice neighborhood restaurant. The Belgian waffle had a different texture from what you'd normally expect but I welcomed it. I don't think there's anything else that stands out, but I was happy with everything on the table. We would, and have, come back whenever we're looking for a comfy breakfast spot

Today I tried their breakfast special, Steak Fajita Omelet. When the plate was delivered to my table the omelet looked overstuffed. Once I cut it in half, the aroma of bell pepper and onion and the sight of the chunks of steak explained why it was stuffed. Every bite had great flavor. The steak is not a low quality cut so if your a meat lover this is definitely the breakfast for you. On this Saturday morning the restaurant was packed with every seat filled and the staff was making sure everyone was satisfied. Another excellent dining experience at Big Joes.

Good diner food. Came with a friend and decided to share a bowl of soup and their mix grill plate. I believe the soup was some kind of barley soup. It was clearly homemade and VERY good. Highly recommended! The mix grill came with a piece of steak (beef), I believe 2 pieces of pork, one of chicken and a sausage. All served up with steamed and buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes. There was plenty of food to go around and leftovers for an extra meal for us.

Chicken fried steak generous portions w/ taters &eggs over easy..Great diverse menu . New go to spot in San Bruno.

The food is fabulous, and plenteous. I am going to be a regular! Please go you won't regret it!

Well it's been too long since I have been back. I am very glad to say they have made improvements. New floors, removal of an old gum ball device. New service staff. The menu is still solid . The service is nice and polite. The food is always good. Salmon and rice . Large portions of fish and chips. The ribs and fries are fall off the bone. Beer is cold and refreshing.

About as good as a diner can get in my book. The decor is pretty dated, and there's only one waitress and one short order cook to run the place, but man, the food is fire. They don't overcook eggs where they lose fluffiness, and servings are generous. I had the chicken fried steak with hash browns, which might have been the best in the area I've ever had.

Taste: 5 Creativity/Authenticity: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 5 I was craving a BLT and what better place to eat this nostalgic sandwich in a diner with a counter top!! Gone are those days and today I was in the mood for a BLT sandwich and I stumbled upon Big Joe's Diner! The lady who took my order was so nice and even though I was just ordering a BLT, the service here was 5 star. Now to the BLT, you can't mess up a simple sandwich you would think but, I think I found a place that does it right, it's only white bread, not sourdough, not wheat, white bread. Bacon, lettuce leaves, not shredded lettuce which I've gotten from some other place before those heathens! lol And last tomato and good mayo that's it, no avocado, no egg! Overall this place is great, has all the classic diner options and best of all small biz. I will be back to try other stuff thank you

The breakfast and dinner food was so delicious. Their omelettes are big enough to serve 2-3 ppl. Their dinner specials are good especially the chicken fried steak dinner. The grill special was delicious and enough to share. The food portions are very generous . Good home Cooked meals without doing the cooking. The prices are very good too.

I ordered the steak sandwich, a little pricey at $30 with fries and Mac salad BUT it was very very very good!!! Over 15 years ago they had a location at Hazelwood St in South City. Unfortunately I did not eat there. Never had the chance. The San Bruno place is nice and homey. There's regular customers and the restaurant staff appreciates them. I'm a new regular now. Your menu has great old school food that I plan to try. Reminds me of Bob's Burgers animated show. I mean that in a loving way!

Gotta love this place. A mom and pop nestled Into a strip of businesses. The food is good , there was alot of people there . The menu is vast . I got the joes scramble. There was a lot of food. Mmmm. The potato's were crisp and the eggs fluffy. The service was as expected .. the place is quaint and a diner style. I love it . Great memories when I was growing up. The coffee is good as was my hot chocolate. I will be back.

Exactly what you expect when hitting up a local small diner. Fast service, good food, hot coffee with lots of refills. I cannot wait to come back for lunch! Cute and clean inside. No complaints. The waffle was almost like mochi texture, different but delicious.

Just watched Pulp Fiction and feeling nostalgic for an old school dinner ambiance? Big Joe's will scratch that itch, and fill you up without breaking the bank! I'm personally a big fan of the country breakfast and chicken fried steak--the first is a great way to start the day, and the second is an equally great way to wind it down! In both cases, I tend to order items I can't easily replicate at home (e.g. due to all the frying required), and I also am a big fan of how Big Joe's puts these two dishes togeter. I can't get enough of the sauce! Around Daly City, they have Original Joe's, but if you want a more relaxed experience, San Bruno's Big Joe's is the spot for you! Service is great: promt and courteous. Street parking is kind of tough, but there is parking available at the rear of the building.

Always great and more food than I can eat. Very nice family owned business. Can I say Doggie Bag

First time here, ordered the Chicken fried steak with hash browns & scrambled eggs. I would have preferred a white gravy but this came with brown, it was ok. The service was great with a friendly attentive waitress & I loved the atmosphere, you can tell the locals love this place.

You will never leave hungry! The service is always great and welcoming. Friendly I would say. I need feel rushed either. You can enjoy your meal and visit with other a friend. It's an old school diner feel. The price is very fair and reasonable

Just found a place to get sausages, eggs and toast today in San Bruno because I was craving it. A big portion i will definitely come back.

Breakfast here is a winner...dinner, not so much. This neighborhood diner has great breakfasts, but dinner was a disappointment. Service was polite but nothing special, and our meals took quite a while to arrive. I ordered the beef stroganoff special, expecting tender beef in a creamy brown sauce over egg noodles or rice. Instead, it came out with a thick, glossy orangey sauce that looked and tasted like a canned Sloppy Joe or Manwich, served over rigatoni-style pasta, completely wrong for stroganoff. The flavors were overly sweet and tomato-forward, lacking the creamy, savory richness you expect. My boyfriend's ribeye was seasoned well, but it was about 70% meat and 30% fat, with a faint off smell that made it hard to enjoy. I'd still recommend Big Joe's for breakfast, but I wouldn't return for dinner until the kitchen steps up its dinner game .

Big Joe's is a pretty okay local diner spot in San Bruno. It doesn't blow you away, but it's the type of comfort food that you seek during breakfast and lunch. While walking to the front entrance, the front is completely covered in a gigantic army of flies at the doorway. I had to make a split decision if I even wanted to walk into the place, but I braced myself and went through. Big Joe's has been opened for decades so certain parts of the restaurant is pretty outdated and not the cleanest. The interior does have a big gorgeous mural of South San Francisco which was pretty cool. Service wise I will have to say was hit or miss because the lady that sat us down and took our order was super nice and attentive, but she had to step away and someone else took over and our replacement waitress was way more unfriendly and unattentive to us. So service wise I have mixed feelings. I personally ordered the BLT with Curly Fries. The BLT itself is $11.95, but if you add curly fries it is an extra cost of $2. I have an obsession with curly fries so I can't say no. The portions are huge and American sized which is the biggest appeal of this diner. There isn't a ton to say about a BLT because...well it's a BLT. They give a good amount of bacon and it was crispy. The tomatoes and lettuce were also fresh. They didn't overdo it with the mayo. The curly fries were also great although it is hard to find a place that makes bad curly fries. Overall the food quality isn't bad, but the service could be a little better and could use some updating in the interior. Also found it a little strange they didn't have a breakfast combo that included their waffles and pancakes as you can only order them by themselves. Parking isn't too bad and there is a parking lot nearby, but you have to pay for parking until 6pm which is not ideal. Also they need to fix their front door fly problem. I still at least wanted to try out this local mom and pop diner even if my experience wasn't perfect.

Completely sick after eating this got sent to the hospital for food poisoning be aware i used to love this place don't know Whats happened

The staff is very friendly and helpful in selecting favorite meals. The food is excellent and large portions. I do recommend taking the time to get a great meal at perfect price.

I'm a big fan of diners. Big Joes was a hit. Texas style French toast was thick but light, egg batter was soaked all the way through. The butter made it perfect. The omelette surprised me. I thought it looked dry but it moist and juicy. Hashbrown super crispy Big joes is on the top of my list.

The best club sandwich ever. Breakfast looked good too. Nice staff. Definitely worth going to!

I ordered the ribeye special and it was amazing. Such a great deal for such a large piece of steak. That was actually cooked very well and tasted amazing. I would highly recommend visiting the spot.

Classic diner with great breakfasts - and I do mean great. In San Bruno for one night and I'm so glad we chose Big Joe's as our breakfast spot. We picked Big Joe's the night before / and didn't pay attention to the hours. If you're from the Midwest - be aware they open at 8:30 on weekdays and 8:00 on weekends. We stopped by at 8:00 on a Friday - and opted to take a stroll around the neighborhood until they opened. Very good decision to wait for them to open. The decor is old school diner. Booths/tables with Formica tops and a counter. Nancy ordered the chicken apple sausage and scrambled eggs / sorry - no picture. But - the sausage were off the grill and were delicious. Tender and juicy. What a treat for us Midwestern girls to have chicken sausage. I love a good eggs Benedict - order it whenever I can. Big Joe's Egg Florentine is an out of this world variation. The spinach, the creamy cheese sauce, the gently poached eggs - oh so delicious. I practically licked my plate it was so good. The country potatoes are also cooked on the grill and are very tasty. Crispy with little bits of onion.

On recommendation of a friend, we tried Biig Joe's today. My friend had a very fresh bowl of fresh fruit with coffee, and I decided to try the Deluxe Chicken sandwich with fries instead of onion rings. The portions were generous, and the chicken was cooked perfectly and not dry, which is sometimes the case at other restaurants. The bacon, Jack Cheese, and Avocado was a great combo with the chicken. Service was pleasant and efficient. It's an old-fashioned small diner, but for me, the food is the most important aspect and everything is very reasonably priced. I highly recommend for a very satisfying meal. The hours posted on Yelp are not accurate, so I've included a photo of the posted sign....I could have come for dinner, had I known!

I ordered the NY steak med. rare and it came out well and my hash browns were not extra crispy but soft. My friends fruit salad had a dead bug in it. The service was good so that's why I gave it 3 stars. I've been there several times and it was always pretty solid.

It's a great local breakfast place. Nothing fancy or snooty, but absolutely someplace I'm planning to come back to. We came for a late weekday breakfast, but there was a decent breakfast crowd around 11 am. Tables are stocked with the usual breakfast accompaniments: jam, syrup, hot sauces. I love that they have multiple hot sauces! We had a chicken fried steak breakfast, corned beef hash, and a berry waffle. The only thing we didn't love is the waffle. It was ok, just really really sweet and a bit chewy instead of crispy and light. Next time, we will do the pancakes. The other two items were great, and I have a particularly high standard for both.

Great food and service. Clean. Local gem. I really wanna keep it a secret, but I'd rather have them get the extra business cause they're so good.

Food was ok. I had steak and eggs, medium rare, but came medium well and unfortunately, the steak was tough. The wife had French toast and bacon. Bacon was rather hard French toast, she said it was OK. Service was OK. I needed to keep looking to get their attention for something one like to refill my cup of joe, and it took a while to get my check.

Found this place by accident when looking for another place to eat on the same block. Glad we came because this place felt like stepping back in time especially with the classic painted mural on the wall of old school San Mateo Avenue back in the day. We sat at the counter and service was very fast and friendly. We got hash browns, eggs, shrimp scramble with surprisingly big shrimp, and strawberry waffles. The portions were huge and the prices were reasonable. The food was very tasty! We had lots of leftover to take home. A friendly couple next to us said they came on a regular basis and they also recommended going for dinner for their entrees including the prime rib. They also loved the portion sizes and the reasonable prices. I'll be back!

Always wanted to try this spot out. Gave it a try and it didn't disappoint. I had the steak sandwich recommended by my waitress and my friend had an omelette. Both were very delicious and very big portions. Our waitress was very accommodating and friendly which made my experience even better. I highly recommend trying them for breakfast or lunch. They have a very large menu with lots of choices and I'm sure they won't disappoint. Go on give them a try

I'm seriously rounding up because I so want to like the place for its old timey greasy spoon vibe. The food is okay and the portions are large. It's possible I'm just no longer able to eat a big burger and fries at my age. There were some people eating at the counter that looked like regulars speaking with the people behind the counter. It was in Spanish so I couldn't under but it was nice and relaxing. If I go back I'd like to try their breakfast offerings.

This is was a to go order. The New York Steak sandwich was delicous. The sandwich is a really good size. I was able to turn it into 2 meals. It was tender and juicy. It can get a little messy so have a lot of napkins ready. This meal comes with fries but for a couple of dollars extra you can get onion rings. Pretty standard onion rings, crispy and generous. Hits the spot. Nice mom & pop diner spot. Looking forward to trying their other offerings.

Food always on point. Service is CD polite and timely. Ambiance is more for those who like old school diner style...no nonsense, just wins you over on food and service.

Very cool place, nice staff and easy walking distance for me from Mills Park. I love their breakfasts works out for me being on graveyard shift, however reading other reviews I would like to try out Friday night prime rib dinner meals. Growing up in SB my whole life I'm glad to see a local restaurant not a chain restaurant. Prices are good food is good give it a try however like everywhere the parking is chore.

I decided to try this place for breakfast based on the pics of their food. I used to come here with a good friend long ago. At 11:15am on a Sunday the place was not busy. There were outdoor tables stacked up with chairs so maybe people thought they were closed. I heard people ask walking in. I decided to get the Joe's Favorite omelette which was three eggs with sausage, cheese, green onions and mushrooms. It came with country potatoes and toast. When it arrived, I was pleased to see the omelette piled high with plenty of potatoes. My server was good. She did come by and ask me if I needed more coffee a couple of times. Their coffee was good too. Strong! If you want to avoid the Sunday wait at other places nearby, get here between 11am and 12pm. I will return here again to try a lunch entree. Good food and great coffee!

1st time here... A really good impression, clean, service was nice and fast! 1st place that I loved not likes the French toast! It was moist, not to sweet, seasoned perfect, not overly! The eggs cooked with care, noticed it had no seasoning, was actually good so I can season myself... the ribeye, ordered medium, came out medium, lightly seasoned too... Quite surprised, that it wasn't full, but I'll probably be here more often on lazy I Don't want to cook breakfast days, lol!

It's a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Good food, good service, and there's parking in the back. That's all I need.

An authentic diner that has been around for decades. Extensive menu full of comfort foods.Today, we had the 2 omelette specials, Joe's Favorite (sausage, mushrooms, and green onions) with country potatoes and Ham (diced ham, spinach, cheddar cheese) extra crispy hash browns. Both delicious, large portions and very filling. Friendly staff and very efficient.

Had some dinner tonight with my family and they did not disappoint. We come every so often and when we come, it's always a great experience!!! The portion sizes are huge and the prices, you can't beat. I had the fish n chips and it was amazing!!! I was so impressed!! Also the chicken picatta was so creamy and yummy!! The service is always great, they are so friendly and welcoming. The ambience is very cozy, as it resembles an old school diner, which I love. I'll always go back and support this local business.

they had a $25 ribeye for breakfast and it was probably the best steak I've had in years. I will definitely come back. Everything was perfect.

Love the old school atmosphere and the exceptional food here. Breakfast, lunch ,dinner and coffee all excellent

Food is delicious, service is awesome, management is poor. When the menu says "All" breakfast comes with toast then give me my toast, don't play games with me and tell my that you used a biscuit to make it so therefore I don't get any toast, that's not what it says anywhere on the menu. Things like this are what's going to make me consider other options for breakfast.

Damn......we were craving a good burger, so we decided to check Big Joe's out. Mind you, we come here for breakfast because they make the best Joe's scramble! But this burger was amazing! It was hot. juicy and the cheese was gooey when you bit into it. And the fries (extra crispy) were burn your mouth hot and with a dash of salt....it hit the spot. I had to force myself to finish half the burger. The service is quick and friendly, the diner is clean. Support your neighborhood small business. This place is a gem.