Bill's Café - Willow

Bill’s Café in Willow Glen is a breakfast gem! The pancakes are huge (like, seriously huge) and the omelets are packed with flavor and fillings. Cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and everything tastes homemade. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel welcome—and full. Highly recommend for a relaxed, satisfying brunch!

Classic Brunch spot with multiple Bay Area locations. You definitely can't go wrong with what they serve. Highly recommend their skillets and eggs benedicts with homemade hash browns. They also have unlimited black coffee that they refill in your mug! They're speedy (<10 minutes for our food to be prepared) with great, friendly and efficient staff. Wait times can be a little long as this location is a little smaller than others, but I do enjoy the patio dining. The freshly squeezed OJ is a little sour at the moment (early July 2025) I do appreciate they have mini options!

Passing through San Jose, we chose Bill’s and were satisfied with our meal. The waiter was attentive, and the food was good. I liked that the bacon was crispy per my request and was not greasy. I would have liked a more robust lemon flavor in my blueberry lemon pancakes and for them to have been more on the light, fluffy side.

Looked higher rated and the pics of their pancakes spoke to me. I prefer steak and eggs with a single chocolate chip pancake. The portions were on the larger size and the palate was thick and fluffy, the picture was not lying!

We had a pleasant experience here while having lunch on Sunday, 4th May. This place is family run and has an old world charm about it, being the original Bill's Cafe founded in 1977. The ambience is warm and cosy and makes for an ideal place for a meal with family or friends. We had mimosas, tea, coffee and an assortment of lunch items and each item was well prepared and the service was very efficient. Clean toilets and adjacent parking added to the convenience.

I found the food wonderful. (Had the Veggie Skillet (v) ) it was great 👍 Didn't need meat. I am not vegan. But found it filling. Taste was excellent. Staff was friendly and helpful. Came here twice on my vacation. Would have come 3 times but on a busy Sunday morning I found there was a wait and absolutely no where to park. (Actually it happened at 3 places we tried to go ) Enjoy if your lucky enough to find parking. They have a parking lot!

Terrible dinning experience. We waited 50 min and have an indoor table with extremely loud next table. We asked for a quiet table. Front desk asked us to wait more. Ridiculous! Never come back again. Each customer need should be respected. Bathroom is full of people, loud environment..

I got their classic rib eye breakfast and they honestly cooked it to perfection. Nice char crust, juicy and tender internals

Classic place for brunch! They were busy on a Sunday midday--it was about a 20 minute wait. Service was great and the food arrived pretty quickly considering how busy they were. California Benedict (4/5) was great! I appreciate that I got a good amount of avocado. Can't go wrong with this one :) The cinnamon pancakes (4/5) were good as well. It had some nice crispy parts from the cinnamon sugar. I recommend splitting this with someone else because the sweetness can be a lot. My bf got the bill's original skillet and he enjoyed this as well. I tried it and thought it was good. The potatoes were a bit too mushy for my taste though. Overall great place for a regular brunch spot. Great service, timely, and good food!

A fast paced, comforting cafe. Pro-TIP - Sit at the counter for parties of 1 or 2 and skip the waitlist Service: Fast - almost immediate, kind Food: The food came out so fast! It was definitely appreciated. I ordered the Protein Scramble ($18.50) with avocado ($2.50) and a side of fruit and sourdough toast that comes pre buttered. Overall, it hit the spot for my Sunday breakfast, and I was able to take some home for my Sunday snack. Plus: they have healthy, protein focused options, and they have a section for half meals at discounted prices (e.g. half a serving off an eggs benedict for $13). Drinks: Extensive mimosa, michelada, and alcoholic coffee options! My friend ordered the Hazlenut Mocha with Baileys and whipped cream - deliciously dense and that little twist of a taste from the liqueur.

I love Bill's especially the waiter Hector. He's an amazing server and totally on top of his customer service. I've been going here for years with my friends and my family, and it never disappoints it's our favorite "go to "breakfast place.

Trust me, this is the go-to spot for breakfast or brunch. Sometimes you might have to wait a bit, but it's never enough to make us think twice about heading over. I always bring anyone who's visiting me- friends, family, you name it- to this place. It's got a vibe that's way cozier than most brunch spots, super spacious, and the air is always filled with the yummiest food. Their coffee can feel a bit on the burnt side, but when everything else is this good, who's complaining? So grateful this place exists.

Love coming here for breakfast, but be warned this place gets busy and parking is limited so you may need to find neighborhood parking. Had the mini SBC omelette and this thing is still big. It came with 1 slice of toast and your choice of potato. The only thing I didn't like was the American cheese which was a Kraft sheet... wish it was shredded as it gave the omelette a weird wet texture on the inside. Service is always friendly and on point and just gives you diner vibes. Love this place and a massive menu to choose from.

I absolutely love Bill's Cafe! Such a spectacular old-time-y place that just gives all the good, warm vibes and has such a classic feel to it. The food is great, the service is warm, and it is well worth any waits! Came here for a breakfast and got lucky with no wait. I ordered an omelette with country potatoes and a side of sausage patties. SO amazing. The portions here are always so large and will leave you feeling full. The omelette was cooked well - good balance of ingredients, not overcooked/dry. The country potatoes were SO good. I am not sure what they do to give them so much flavor, but they are incredibly flavorful without being overly salty or anything. I would love them even more if they were extra crispy! The sausage patty was delicious! It was HUGE, way larger than I expected. And it went well with all of the other items I had. The service was fast, kind, and very helpful with navigating the menu. All in all, great food, great ambiance, and for a good price in a lovely neighborhood! Highly recommend Bill's. A staple in San Jose!

Absolutely wonderful. I walked in sorta hungry and left absolutely satisfied. It was my first time here, according to the regular customers lines star forming early on weekends and it goes on for hours. So come early or you'll be standing for hours gawking at other people's food while you wait. Fortunately for me, I DID NOT want to wait for a table so I decided to sit by the bar (quicker and faster service) Service is friendly and prompt. My waiter swung by constantly frequently without being pushy or overbearing so you can just sit and talk for hours if needed - not that I needed that. Prices are very reasonable and portion size is just right. I had the protein scramble, and it was done right! In conclusion: I ABSOLUTELY plan on coming back and know exactly what I'm going to try next time - thank you for the hospitality!

Breakfast/brunch spot with delicious food and drinks. Great for families! FOOD: I ordered the Bills Skillet and asked the server to add Chorizo and avocado with a side of wheat toast and it did not disappoint! My toast came once I was done with my skillet. Mini pancakes with butter and sausage. Let me tell you, the fluffiest and taste of the pancakes are very very similar to I-Hop's pancakes! Delicious!!! Customer service: Great people there. Our server forgot to bring some of the items we asked for but overall the CS was good. Ambiance: It was packed! They really make you feel special for your birthday. The servers will come and sing a special song to you and (if you are a minor or dont drink alcohol) they will bring a shot glass of apple juice on the house!!! Lol Definitely a 8/10

Bill's cafe on Willow Glen is my goto for weekend brunch. It's consistent and I know I will be happy for what I paid for. Food, service and staff -- always good. The wait can sometimes be long but the waiting area under the big umbrella and free coffee helps. We are always at the patio since we have our furry babies. Staffs are always very kind and considerate especially with our dogs. Food: Mexicali Benedict, Chorizo Omelet, pancake, fried chicken waffle -- those are our favorites and staples. We haven't strayed far from these to be honest. We just keep coming back. I know pancake is basic and you may not want to pay for boring ol pancakes, but honestly, Bill's know how to make some good pancakes and waffles. They are buttery and fluffy. I swear someone needs to share the secret! The hash is also a must have if you like potatoes. Thin, crispy and not overcooked! Ambience: Expect...NOISE. But in a good way. Happy and satisfied noisy customers is a good sign.

Good food good service and price and great ambiance we don't miss our Sunday brunch at bills and it is our favorite place to go

Super tasty! Huge portions! Great price! Fluffiest pancakes I've ever had! Servers are amazing and cafe is always bustling. I suggest reserving a table on yelp since it can get very busy.

Easily one of my favorite spots to go for breakfast in San Jose. We came in a little later than 11:30am and waited about 20 minutes for our table. The food here is always amazing and the service is quick! I always get the two egg breakfast with hash browns and sourdough toast. My friend ordered the country fried streak. Bills is always busy but the food is always worth it. The restaurant inside can be a little crowded so here and there I prefer to sit outside.

Best pancakes!!!!! Love the service, fast and friendly :) great atmosphere great people

Great breakfast and brunch food at a fair price ! The smoked salmon Benedict's are to die for !!

I've been to Bill's plenty of times and typically do the pancakes or eggs Benedict and it has always been great. Saturday morning I decided to switch it up and although the wait was about ~1 hour it was understandable for a Saturday brunch spot. Sadly we were left very disappointed with our order. I had the original skillet, the potatoes were over-seasoned and overall just too salty. The mexican latte was probably one of the worst spiked coffees I've had, the tequila was extremely overpowering in taste. My friend had the cinnamon french toast, which was too dry to enjoy (even when covered in syrup). However, the service was amazing as always. If you decide to go to Bill's I would definitely recommend sticking to your typical order.

Always a delicious brunch at Bills. Service and food are always swift and easy and I always appreciate the short wait time. Overall very satisfied with breakfast at Bills!

The Petaluma omelette was good. Buttermilk pancakes were fluffy enough for me. The servers were attentive and checked on us frequently. They always refilled our coffee. Place is clean and has an "old diner" vibe to me. We'll be back.

Our family comes here often and we tried pretty much everything on the menu, without being dissapointed so far. We love to sit outside on the patio and the food comes fast, we love the ambiance and service there. Sometimes they are very busy, but we always take that into account, for us it's worth the wait. We are very grateful to have Bill's Cafe so close to us! Thank you!

I really liked my girlfriend's dish, but mine not so much. So the three star review is for my dish and also, the service was a bit slow but it seems like our server was having difficulties with another table so I can sympathize with him. Located off Willow Glen, Bill's is located to a bunch of other brunch spots. They have their own parking lot but I ended up parking in the willow glen garage. Wait times were quite long, which is typical on a sunday morning and we waited roughly 25-30 minutes to be seated. We were seated in the corner right next to a round table so maybe that's why we were a bit neglected. I ordered the mexicali benedict and my girlfriend ordered the tri-tip benedict along with an OJ. The orange juice glass is really small so we had to take small sips. I don't think they give you free refills like they would with coffee or soda, but don't quote me on that. We waited a while before our server came which is unfortunate. When our food came out, i was sad to see that the pulled pork was cold. It must have been reheated from when it was cooked earlier that day or from a previous day. If it was fresh/hot, i would have enjoyed my meal a lot more. My girlfriend's tri-tip was absolutely delicious and the steak was very tender. Now I know not to get the mexicali benedict and order something else off the menu. There are other Bill's cafe locations in the bay and may frequent those instead.

Came here for brunch with a friend around 11am on a Saturday and there was roughly a 45 minute wait, since this is a popular spot in Willow Glen. There's at least a few dozen egg options here between the omelettes, scrambles, and benedicts, but I was in more of a steak and eggs mood. The Bill's Steak and Eggs came with charbroiled tri-tip (asked for medium-rare) 3 eggs (asked for soft scramble) and hash browns (asked for extra crispy). Steak came back medium, but thankfully it wasn't dry or too tough and was pretty flavorful from the grill marks. Eggs and hash browns were executed well, and mimosa on the side was good too. Overall, pretty solid spot, definitely a bit busy on the weekends but that just gives some extra time to catch up with friends while you wait.

Loved the shaded Patio area they have. i reserved a table in advance for sunday brunch got seated within 20 minutes. Our waiter was truly the start of the show he was on point with knowing the menu and the specials. Got our food/drinks in quick. my dish came out wa rm and was cold by the time everyone elses food came. Delicious but not a desired temperature thats for sure . I love the brewed iced tea w a splenda sooo good!

Great classic place with good service and good food. Definitely worth a visit. If you sit outside, beware: the street noise level can be pretty high, especially on street cruising Sundays, which are really fun, but very loud!

We happened to be in San Jose around Brunch time and stopped by Bill's Cafe for a quick bite. Wow - that was a surprisingly delicious and very satisfying meal! I had the El Paso Benedict which was a HUGE corned beef hash benedict. The corned beef hash and hash browns were nice and crisp, and the hollandaise sauce and eggs were very rich and runny. And did I mention that the portions were HUGE? I was very satisfied afterwards! Bill's has a nice shaded and heated outdoor patio - which was very comfy and pleasant.

Just had brunch here and oh boy it was bad. We had the California Benedict's and both potatoes and hash was tasting very old. The Benedict itself was tasteless and we couldn't finish the meal and left and most likely won't go back. Very unfortunate because I had many memories growing up with this place. Hope they see this and change it.

This was my first time at the location. Parking lot is relatively small, but if you can't find parking here there are plenty along the street/neighborhood. Highly recommend using yelp's waitlist feature to save you so much time. You can even ask Yelp to notify you when to add yourself to the waitlist if you're trying to get a table at a specific time which is so helpful! I'm sure other people had set up a similar notification because once I added myself to the list there were more than 6 groups added right after me lol. But about the food -- you can never go wrong with ordering a Benedict. My favorites are the crab cake and smoked salmon Benedict. This time I opted to try a Mexican Latte instead of a mimosa and you know what, it was actually pretty good! I little sweet than what I'm used to, but it definitely has a strong alcohol kick to it.

Bills has been a Willow Glen institution for many years. Back in the 80's, it was Bill's, Ed's and John's. Bill's has expanded the outdoor dining area. The breakfasts are the go-to items. My standard is the Pancake Sandwich. Three pancakes 2 eggs, bacon, sausage or ham. I seem to remember them having buckwheat pancakes in the past but it is only buttermilk now. Absolutely worth the trip.

Excellent food and the services is amazing!!! My family and I have been coming here since forever, and we all become a family!!! Is a willow glen tradition!!!

Cookies and cream pancake is very close to a deep fried oreo! Love Bills! If you haven't tried Bills, now id the tome to try it ;) lol

The best! Great food and great service. I always get the hash brown skillet, it's amazing.

I went to Bill's Cafe last week for brunch and ordered the chicken and waffles platter. The chicken was crispy and flavorful. The waffle was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Both were delicious! Our waitress was polite and super attentive. The outdoor patio is my preferred seating area. I really appreciated our sever turning on the heater for our table since it was a bit chilly that afternoon. My cousin ordered their seasonal pumpkin pancakes and enjoyed her selection.

The food was very good and we were served very promptly, our server was great, she was nice & had a smile on her face. Very family oriented and clean.

Came here for late breakfast with a few friends. We were seated right away. The waitress seemed less than thrilled to be serving us. I ordered the El Paso Benedict since all of the Benedict's seemed to be popular on here, it's essentially an eggs Benedict with corned beef hash, it underwhelming to say the least. The English muffin it was served on was soggy & im not sure they even toasted it to begin with. The corned beef hash looked more like a pate but certainly didn't taste like it. The green peppers and onions it was served with weren't really cooked well at all & the hash browns were soggy in the middle & flavorless. Overall was unimpressed and did not finish my meal. On top of all that, the place smelled like urine, unsure if it was the actual place or someone nearby but I definitely lost my appetite. Will not be returning here.

Came here for a late breakfast/brunch. Honestly- I would not return here. I ordered the California omelet, I forgot to take a pic but it was okay. There was giant glob of sour cream on my omelet and overwhelmed with cheese and little veggies and 4 tiny slices of avocado. The hashbrown tasted weird- crispy on the outside but mushy and tasted old/stale butter in the inside. My friends ordered the smoked salmon Benedict and El Paso benefit. They were extremely disappointed. Both breads were extremely soggy. And the house potatoes were overly salty. The customer service was mediocre. And the environment was not impressive. I am just disappointed.

Get here early to avoid long waits. If you do happen to hit snooze and wind up waiting, don't worry because it's worth it! They also offer complimentary coffee while you wait. The best free coffee you will ever taste. :) Food is on point and delicious! Perfect for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Plenty of selection and something for everyone. Outdoor seating is so nice with heaters available if needed. Indoor seating is nice but it gets a little loud for my little one. We love outdoor dining and getting the fresh air! Service is just as good as their pancakes!

Breakfast is okay, nothing special but my friend I really like their home made drinks! they have various of drinks and patio is nice

LOVE Bills! This location always have fast service and I haven't had to wait to long. They utilize a Yelp waist, so you can join that as well. The omelettes are my go to. I usually get the Californian because I can't pass up avocado. The portions are filling and the food tastes fresh. The hash browns taste buttery and have the right blend of crispy with a soft interior. My son loves their French toast. It's thick Texas toast style with powdered sugar and served with butter and syrup. For $5 more, you can add eggs and bacon or sausage. My son isn't an eggs fan and they were nice enough to substitute hash browns instead of eggs. You can add a fruit topping as well if that's your thing. Parking lot is limited, so you may need to find street parking.

I would not eat here. It did not appear clean, there were flies everywhere and it was very musty and humid, no fresh air. The food was OK.

Bill's cafe never disappoints. This morning was no different! Customer service was amazing - we were seated as soon as we walked in and our waiter, Eric, was super attentive and awesome (he even caught us as we were leaving to give us a to-go box my dad forgot!) The food was great and it wasn't overwhelming too busy. Bill's is always a good choice for breakfast! Always good vibes here.

This restaurant is the best! Food is outstanding including but not limited to the Fried Chicken Benedict, Fried Chicken Sandwich, chilaquiles and much more. The staff is amazing with a family vibe. Our family literally goes twice a week. Great atmosphere and drinks are a plus as well.

Went to Bills since other brunch spots are closed on Mondays. Bills is a a great tried and true diner spot for delicious brunch. The prices are affordable and the portions are big. I got the protein scramble with fruit and toast. Food was fresh and satisfying. They have a nice outdoor seating area, staff is very friendly. They even offer brunch cocktails. When in doubt for brunch, choose Bills!

After passing by this place several times over the years I finally decided to go to this Bill's Cafe. Upon arrival i was seated right away in a booth. Place was packed as always. Got my coffee and browsed the menu. After deciding what I wanted i placed my order. I got the meat omelette. Which has cheese, ham, bacon and sausage. For the side i got country potatoes, and i upgraded my order by getting the cookies and creme pancake. When I got my order i was surprise by the portion size. Its huge it can be easily shared with another person. However, thr cookies and creme pancake was my favorite. The country potatoes were good, had lots of seasoning. As for the omelette it lavked on the seasoning i wish it had more flavor. Overall, the service was good. The food was decent, can't complain. In the future i would just order more pancakes!

Had a simple egg n meat breakfast. Hash browns could have been a little crispier. Sausage and bacon were good. Great service.

My favorite place to brunch! Kid friendly, friendly staff and great food. Their birthday treats are awesome too!

We visited this place on a weekday morning for brunch. There was relatively no wait and we were seated relatively quickly. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. We ordered and we're served the food pretty quickly. We ordered a Crab Cakes Benedict and a Bread Pudding French Toast Combo. The Bread Pudding French Toast Combo was delicious and sweet, the banana and the sauce it was drenched it was mostly the perfect combination, just a bit too sweet at times. The Crab Cakes Benedict was delicious as well - very creamy and the country style potatoes were the perfect touch. Overall, I enjoyed my experience eating here and will be back in the future to try more of the dishes.

Best place for Sunday brunch in the bay area. Food is delicious and mimosas are extra good!

It is Friday and that means it's time for my favorite breakfast spot that I've been going to for more then 20 years. Parking in Willow Glen can take some time so don't wait till you very hungry. Arrival on Friday is great and a little later in the morning so you don't have to wait for a long time. This is a very popular place. Expect to wait if you come on Sunday! Food is always good and the menu has many options from traditional american eggs and bacon to huge soft pancakes. The prices are higher than Dennys but the food is fresh and made to order. Potatoes are tasty, well cooked and full of onions and peppers for flavor. My favorite is the California Benedict which as great flavor but not too salty like most other places. Coffee is good but not great. Would love if better beans. Sometimes the service is perfect and sometimes a little slow but overall a great place for breakfast and you can even bring your dog for patio service. If you haven't tried, go and then take a nice long walk down sidewalks of Willow Glen which is always a great way to get your digestion moving.

The best breakfast in SJ in my opinion! I've been to many bills locations but this one is truly my favorite. We sat outside this past Sunday and got to enjoy the weather on their awesome patio. It was my parents first time and they absolutely loved every bite! The food: We got the Jalisco scramble, California Benedict, and California omelette each with either country potatoes or hash browns and everything came out absolutely perfect! Can't forget to top it with some of their pepper plant hot sauce as well. Our waiter Martin was awesome, he has been my waiter before and every single time he delivers prompt service and some good laughs. Thank you Martin!

How in the world have I never reviewed Bills Cafe?! We love Bills! We used to come here every weekend! The only reason we have been in a while is because we've been checking out other breakfast spots in the area. We will always love Bills Cafe though, haha. The wait time is sometimes long, but we go shopping at World market and hang out until it's time for us to eat. We come knowing we will probably have to wait. We have always had great service! I don't think we have ever had a negative experience. They are knowledgeable on the food, on what substitutions they can do, and food suggestions. They also have a full bar and made some delicious cocktails! Ok, to be fair we go for breakfast after 12 on weekends so a cocktail isn't really that crazy of an idea LOL. We have had almost every item on the menu. We love the 2 eggs and bacon/sausage when we want something simple, the eggs Benedict and the corned beef and hash are pretty good! Their serving sizes are BIG. You can easily share a plate. They also have simple items for more picky eaters, like my son. He gets a toasted bagel and cream cheese. Loves it! They have such a wide range of foods. Vegan and vegetarian, too. The inside of the cafe is super cute as well. The booths are nice, the bar is beautifully kept up and it just feels inviting when you walk through the doors. Definitely check them out if you're in the area.

Don't let the appearance fool you. This is a gem. Stopped here while visiting from out of town. Best breakfast we've had in a long time. Flavorful and great portion sizes. Other customer plates looked equally delicious. Customer service was wonderful from the moment we inquired about seating. A little bit of a wait but worth it. Only concern would be lack of space and you'll find yourself having to maneuver around people or a long line for the one bathroom. Other than that, so worth it!

Eric is the bomb!!! He's been there 9 years So professional So nice He made recommendations which were awesome 10! Thanks for a great breakfast experience