Big Joe's 8

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!

I love taking the time to leave a positive review when it's just an awesome overall experience. As an unofficial aficionado of diner culture, all I can say is this spot will be added as one of my new "happy places." The server was kind, warm, and timely. The establishment was clean and had a retro vibe that was tasteful, with a lovely throwback mural and fun tabletop design. Having visited on a Monday, it was very calm inside and was what I had been looking for (other than lunch). What I had was one of the best-looking and tasting Club House sandwiches, alongside a generous portion of potato salad & a Diet Coke. Perfection. To note, you do get a choice of six different sides & I love options! I can't wait to return and try out some other diner classics on my next trip from Oakland to San Bruno.

Stepped in on St Patrick's Day 2025 at approximately 1046. The kind, patient and efficient waitress said it'll be ready in about 10 minutes. Meanwhile I ordered a dinner salad with blue cheese dressing and a Diet Coke with lots of ice. 6 pieces of hot bread accompanied with real butter (wrapped pats), which kicked off this stupendous meal. Afterwards the corned beef arrived. The snapshot of the main entree tells the entire story. Happy St Patrick's Day!!!!

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!

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

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.

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 .

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

This is one of those places that other restaurants are compared to. The flavors and portions are hard to compete against. From breakfast to dinner, every meal I've had here blows away similar diners. Basically any choice you pick whether from the menu or off the specials board you won't be disappointed. It's a family run operation with that hometown vibe.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

Traditional diner style that serves breakfast and more. Can't go wrong! Food was tasty, staff was friendly. Downside is parking but if you're patient, you will find a spot.

I have lived in San Bruno 30 years. And just the other day discovered "Big Joe's" restaurant at 487 San Mateo Ave. Apparently, they have been there forever. What an amazing culinary discovery ! Tucked away among the local stores is this inconspicuous gem. American cuisine at is very best. Portions are generous. Quality is five stars. Try their burgers and steaks ! Breakfast OMG. The open kitchen is another plus. Service and cleanliness is top notch too. don't let the unexciting appearance discourage you. This place is 5 stars.

Good standard breakfast. Service is a little slow but I'm pretty sure the cook cut every piece of my fruit salad fresh. It's worth it.

This place is so good the price and food is epic love it Will be back and will getting take out as well can't wait to get hungry again. The service is the best and you have to love being offered coffee to go I mean come on lived that

Your hidden breakfast spot, good service and great portions at reasonable prices. This is a place to get fed and feel comfortable. Everyone, staff and customers greet each other like one big family.

Went here for breakfast and was amazed on how large their portions are. I would certainly come back for their wonderful service.

I'll just come right out and say it - this is a hangover diner. Flat out. It's quaint, cozy, the coffee is strong and they have HUGE portions with no pretense. I ordered the veggie omelet with hashbrowns and sourdough toast. The omelet was ENORMOUS (literally like 3" high), and was folded over a middle of melty jack cheese. The veggies were plentiful but a caveat - they use some kind of spice in the egg batter (may be just for the veggie omelet? can't say) so be aware of this if you like your eggs more on the blander side. That being said, the spice was a nice touch of flavor and there was no need for added salt or other seasoning. The hashbrowns weren't greasy and done to a great crisp on the outside. The toast was buttered perfectly edge to edge and generously (not like other joints where they just slap-dash a portion of the bread). The coffee! So good! Everything was very clean. There is a tv on but not to a tedious volume, and the clientele were mostly an older/retired looking set who all seemed to know the owner (who was also the cook) and the waitress as well as each other. Parking is a little challenging but if you cruise the 'hood you can luck out. All in all, a GREAT spot to dine! I've also heard great things about their BLT so will try that next time.

I recently ate here with my daughter and a friend. I used to live in San Bruno, and would come here often, but I moved across the bay to Newark. This was my first time back to Big Joe's in more than 20 years. The restaurant was packed, so the wait was a little longer than I like, but not that big a deal. When we ordered, the food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and it was very good. My Italian Fritatta was just as I remembered, and my friend's breakfast did not disappoint him. My friend and I used to eat here a lot when I lived in San Bruno, so we were hoping that it was still as good as we remembered. This was my daughter's first time to eat her and she loved her breakfast. The price of the food was pretty reasonable too, considering the quality and amount of food on the plate. I found that that management had changed since my last visit, and I was relieved that they decided to keep things as they were, for the most part. The only real changes that I noticed were that they now accept credit cards and that they had replaced the original floor. Too bad about the floor, I liked the checkerboard tiles. I DO like being able to pay by credit card though. Good job, Big Joe's! I'll be back.

Great food, great prices, great people! Huge portions in a cozy local spot. What else could you ask for?

Let me start by saying this place is filthy... tons of flies outside, and even an old fly trap that hasn't been replaced in years. Food: 3.5/5 Prices: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Cleanliness: 0/5 Contrary to what others said they do accept credit cards and prices are OK- (for most of the items at least). Their Rib-eye steak with country potatoes and toasts for $19.95 and you can find other breakfast options on the menu for less than $10. Service was attentive and friendly. Portions were huge and our food came out quickly. There's plenty of free street parking around. You can eat inside or outside (limited seating) and they still require masks to be worn. Too bad they don't want to clean this place anymore, that's the only reason I wouldn't recommend it.

Super tasty food, nice people. It's cool. Breakfast is awesome, so is dinner. Parking on the street and in the back.

This place has been here as long as I can remember. I came here for breakfast, French toast and bacon. Everything was your classic no frills breakfast. Nothing bad but nothing mind blowing either, which is fine. My only gripe is that I know for a fact that the maple syrup isn't real. 100% maple syrup has a distinct taste, this did not. Now I understand that it is expensive in the world of condiments but it will make or break a good French toast, waffle, or pancake for me. Alas even in more swanky joints, they skimp here. Next time I'll order the biscuits & gravy.