Cook's American Grill

Had one of the best burgers I’ve ever tasted in my life and the fries were fantastic too! You couldn’t even taste any grease hardly! Service was excellent and extremely nice, plus the old times feel was a great environment! Will definitely be dining again here!

Our family met here for dinner. This is a great diner with a small town feel. We ordered tenderloins, bacon cheeseburgers, fried mushrooms, and fries. Everything was great! The staff was very friendly and the building is very clean inside and out. We also tried the ice cream and got some cinnamon rolls to go. The cinnamon rolls alone were worth the trip!!! Highly recommend and we will be back.

Don't sleep on this place, their food is all good, ALL OF IT! This is definitely a hidden gem of Topeka. Parking is limited but its worth the walk if you have to park at Apple Market across the street. The reuben sandwich was to die for as well as the fried mushrooms. They cook their eggs to perfection and the meat is phenomenal. The atmosphere is very fun, family owned restaurant and small town feel is addictive in this current climate where everything is go go go. Love this place and will definitely be back! 5 stars all the way!!!

Upon entering the place Everyone was so friendly, kind, warm and welcoming. Such incredible nice people. The menu is really extensive and home style. But you'll see all that in the pictures I'm going to post with this. The food was fantastic and made to order. So everything was fresh and hot. We absolutely loved it. The ORDER.. I got the Chicken Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy with Green Beans a Roll and a Large Drink. Next we ordered a Reuben Sandwich with a Large Onion Rings a Large Drink and this one got a SURPRISE Made-from-Scratch Cinnamon Roll, quite Large I might add. So he ate a few Onion Rings and SWITCHED over to the WARMED Cinnamon Roll then took his dinner with him. Silly Dad. Next is my Daughter, she ordered the Grilled Chicken made like the Patty Melt. Rye Bread, I believe, Grilled Onions, Tomatoes, Mayonnaise, Cheese. I Believe that was it on the Sandwich. Next she had French Fries which were really good and hot. Also she got a Hand-made Brownie, AWESOME! A Chocolate Milkshake to Drink with the HANDS DOWN BEST FLAVOR EVER, that she got a SECOND ONE. We always have to order Fried Mushrooms when we are fortunate enough to find them so here was no exception. And we were NOT disappointed!! These are hand breaded. AND AMAZING!! We ended up buying a SECOND ORDER. They even have a little dish that holds TRIVIA CARDS for you to play with your table companions while you wait, or eat, or even while you let it settle. One more thing I have to say that I purchased was supposed to be for the kids meal, these cute little cars. I'll put a picture of those as well. This place is SO WORTH YOUR VISIT!! EVEN IF IT'S A BIT OUT OF THE WAY, YOU SHOULD MAKE THE EFFORT TO VISIT! The FOOD is AMAZING!! The PEOPLE are INCREDIBLE!! The ATMOSPHERE is WARM AND WONDERFUL!! THERE'S JUST NO REASON TO SAY NO!😀👍

What a great piece of Americana!! This grill delivers the goods. I ordered the meatloaf dinner and a pice of raisin cream pie. Delish! The meatloaf dinner was under $10 f’sho the price is right, just a wonderful place! Love it!

Ultra friendly and smiling faces abound. Excellent service. Cheeseburger exactly the way I ordered it and CRISPY FRIES! Plus a homemade milkshake worth a nice variety of ice cream flavors from which to choose.

Just about everything an old fashioned diner ought to be. The prices are fair, the good was terrific, the staff friendly and helpful. It doesn't look like much of a place but I'm glad we dined here. I was recommended the Cook's Club sandwich with coleslaw which hit the spot. I niblled on the kids' fries and chicken tenders - also good. Kids meals are served in a Ford Fairline 500 box which I found delightful. Order at the front and served to the table. Our waitress was very friendly. I left with a smile. If I were a local I would eat here often.

Every time I ate here the food has been very good. I have brought friends here. It is one of my favorite places in Topeka.

I had occasion to visit the VA hospital this week for an 8am appt, and wanted breakfast once the appt was done. My husband asked about a chicken friend steak, so I Yelp'd and low-and-behold, Cook's is really close to where we were. I was raised in a small midwestern town, and this, folks, is a quintessential midwestern diner! I didn't snap a pic of the menu, but ordering is done at the register and all the prices are very reasonable. I ordered a coffee & western omelette, which came with a side of hash-browns and biscuit. The coffee, very standard diner percolator brewed stuff, was fresh and the perfect consistency. The food was served quickly by a cheerful waitress who came by a few times to continue to check on us. My husband was very pleased with his chicken fried steak, hash-browns, eggs and toast. My breakfast was well-portioned; not a huge plate but definitely ample, fresh and tasty! The best part of the experience for me what the cleanliness of the dining room. Not fancy- utilitarian carpet, linoleum table tops- but so clean, fresh and well-tended. It seemed busy for a Thursday morning; more than half the dining room was occupied, and the low storefront of the building is easy to miss, but I was confident these customers were regulars. We don't live in Topeka, but this is now my fav restaurant there, so I plan to return!

They are a great family owned restaurant and always friendly. Food is always hot and fresh.

Cook's is a staple in Topeka. Some of the best breakfast food you'll find. Honestly, their other food is good, but if you're not going to have breakfast, then I can't be your friend. Breakfast food always wins in my book and you're missing out if you don't try it. Their breakfast bowls, french toast, omelets, pancakes, whatever. Get you some.

Throw back cafe/diner that delivered a GREAT double cheeseburger. Loved the special sauce mixed with DICED lettuce, great cheese and fresh tomato & pickle. The bun just became part of the burger. Ordered a bowl of chili on the side and it was exactly what you would expect-hearty with some spice and good ground beef. Definitely stop in if you haven't.

This place was our go to when our kids were small, and we've rediscovered it over the last 2 years so. They food was always good, the staff were nice and the kids loved the meals served in the little cardboard cars. The price was right too! We started going back a few years ago whenever we just wanted a really good basic cheeseburger. It's not the best burger ever, but it's always really really good, and fairly priced. We just tonight and had the chicken fried steak and it was pretty awesome. Once again, very good food, good sized portions and the price is very reasonable. I'm thinking we'll be going there on a more consistent basis. The double bonus is supporting a local small business!

Definitely a learning curve experience on my first visit here. I now know TO ORDER the two eggs with sausage and hashbrowns. I also know NOT TO ORDER the pancakes as the included side as they were DELICIOUS but only a tease with the tiny size. Instead I would opt next time for the biscuit. Also under NOT TO is the biscuits and gravy. So, why a side biscuit but NOT the B&G? Simple, bland powdered gravy mix. The biscuit drowning under it was quite nice looking. Sausage had great flavor and two generous patties. Coffee above average.

We were visiting family in the Topeka area and we always like to find little mom and pop diners to try. Cooks was one of the best we have had in quite a while. The food tasted like it was freshly made in the back, the service was outstanding and the ambiance was quaint. We highly recommend Cooks if you are ever in the area.

Not a fancy place but plenty of parking out back. Staff was super helpful and I had a great breakfast. The servings were large ie the sausage Pattie's and the hash browns

I have been eating here for years. The service was good today. They are always friendly. Sadly, today I have a mixed review. I ordered the roast beef dinner, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll, and lemon meringue pie. My entree came out a little cold today. The food tasted okay but I found a hair under my roast beef That is such a bummer. I will finish on a positive note. My lemon meringue pie was delicious. The crust is always perfect. The flavor of the lemon curd was just the right amount of tart and sweet. And the meringue was piled nice and high. This is the kind of place you order Thanksgiving and Christmas pies! I will be back to Cook's someday. Let's hope my next visit is more like all the times before!

Best comfort food in Topeka!!! The breakfast is wonderful, the cinnamon rolls are made there and baked fresh daily. If you like cheeseburgers, you have got to have the 1/2 pound cheeseburger special, it will blow your mind. I love, love, love the chef salad with blue cheese dressing, which is homemade-but not shown on the menu-just ask for it. The ranch and thousand island are also made fresh and the french dressing is OTTS, how can you mess with perfection. I just tried the fried shrimp and it was wonderful. Be sure to ask for extra crispy fries or hashbrowns. They also have homemade chili that is perfect with a side of sour cream and cheese on top. Another not on the menu favorite is a frito chili pie. Speaking of pie, they bake the fruit pies on site and the cream pies come from a pie maker who makes them at home. I love the lemon meringue pie. Treat yourself, you won't regret it.

You will need to order at the counter when you walk in, but they will bring your food to you when it's ready. It definitely has an old school feel to it - nothing fancy, but the service is friendly and the food is good. I had the breakfast bowl with bacon and thought it had great flavor, was fresh and not greasy tasting. The potatoes had a perfect crunch to them. Hubby said the pancakes and hash browns were excellent! It was a wonderful stop for breakfast on our way out of town.

Want some home cooking? Look no further. I like this little spot; nice service and decent food. I really like their meatloaf dinner and they have some great burgers. Come support a locally owned establishment that has been around a long time.

This is just a great middle-American diner that Californians will never understand. It's great because it has all the little touches that only comes from cooking comfort food thousands of times until it's perfected. The sausage has a little sear on it without being dried out. The gravy has crumbled - not lumpy - sausage, and pepper you can see. The biscuit was brushed with melted butter before it was baked, to make it a little salty and stiff - not crunchy. And the chef's secret gravy ingredient is paprika :) This place checks all the boxes with a sweet waitress, an old guy behind the grill, and a newspaper waiting for you. I got a sausage and cheese omelette, hash browns, biscuits and gravy. The gravy is OUTSTANDING. Don't miss it. Hang your coat and take a comfortable seat.

While the staff is great, the food always tastes like it comes directly out of a can. I have tried to like the food, but it just doesn't taste good. All the people I know that like this place only do so because they are friends with the owner.

Love this little hometown restaurant, the food is cooked to order tastes home made and they have a huge selection. The onion rings are my favorite.

Had the Patty Melt for lunch today. It brought to mind the classic question "where's the beef? The beef patty was no thicker than the slice of cheese. This was the worst patty melt I've ever had. I'll not be going back to Cooks very soon, if at all.

Hidden Gem off Gage Blvd. Great value for your $. The food comes out fast and hot. Covid sanitation is on point. Table was sanitized prior to sitting down.

A GREAT restaurant! Home cooked food, friendly staff, and opulent integrity! This place will become one of your regular stops!!

Hubby and I checked out this place for breakfast for the first time. It was excellent. The over medium eggs were perfect and the bacon was crispy. Just like we like. We will be back. We ordered the two eggs any style with hashbrowns, eggs, bacon and toast. Simply delicious.

Excellent home style breakfast. Very divey but my over-medium eggs were cooked perfectly, which seems to be hard to come by these days. The biscuits and gravy were not the best "looking" but they we're surprisingly delicious. My nine-year-old said his pancakes were the best he ever had and my husband did not even touch the salt and pepper which is next to never. Great stop while driving through Topeka.

Ate here for the first time this morning for breakfast. The breakfast menu was small, but had all the essentials. Our biscuits and gravy, pancakes, eggs, and bacon were all really good. The sausage I had was not. I think it's just the brand they use because I recognized it from having it somewhere else in the past, didn't like it then either. It was fairly busy. A lot of people were getting food to go, but several groups were there to eat. It's a smaller place, but not congested at all. Staff was extremely nice and made it feel even more of a cozy place to eat. Definitely recommend going here and I definitely will be coming back to try lunch/dinner sometime! They also had like 10 kinds of ice cream, which I'll need to try at some point in my life too...

TL; DR: Solid food and cheap prices, but weak coffee Came here while in town on business. This place is set up a little differently: you go up to the counter to order and pay, grab your own utensils and drinks, and sit. They bring the food to you, and the lady was walking around refilling coffee, but it appeared you put your own dishes up as well (I did, following suit of what appeared to be regulars). I got a breakfast special with coffee for less than $6. Now the coffee was the weakest coffee I've ever had in a diner, but my meal was so cheap I didn't bother to ask for a different drink. The food came out quickly and was delicious. Just good hometown diner food, yano? Didn't require the addition of salt or pepper, as is the case with so many small diners. Overall, I want to try some other places in town, but I'd be willing to come back.

What a great restaurant! The food is very good as well as the prices. I had a ham and cheese on rye which was loaded with meat. The bread was really fresh. The people there are really friendly. The inside is also very clean.

I always eat at this nice local family-owned restaurant when I am in town. The employees are always very nice, and the food is delicious. There is such a variety to choose from--hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, salads, dinner plates (roast beef, chicken, meatloaf, and more). They even serve omelets and other delicious breakfast items during morning hours. Although they get lots of regular business, there is plenty of room since they recently expanded. It's so nice to see a local business thriving during the current state of the world!

Lunch with moms & brother...its Always good at cooks. Happy empty plate...my mom had the veggie beef soup & grill cheese sandwich gone!

We had breakfast here yesterday, and it was really good. We enjoyed the trivia cards on the table, and it seemed like no time at all before our food was brought to the table. Orange juice, coffee were top notch. Great hash browns, eggs, etc. Comfort food is always fun, so we will be back again soon.

Stopped here on my way through Kansas. I found traditional favorites, done well, at a good price, and with friendly staff =)

Love the cozy and casual atmosphere. Service is great even though it's kind of a self-serve place. The small taco salad is just the right size. Love the pork tenderloin sandwiches. The sizes and prices are just right! But....you need a more prominent sign on Gage Blvd! Unless someone points the place out, it's easy to overlook.

Good food, prices, and service. Had sandwich and pie. Nothing fancy but a great breakfast or lunch stop. Will go back for sure.

Service is great despite ordering from the counter. Bacon was thin and without much flavor. The sausage and pancakes and hash browns were really good and the serving sizes were huge. The cinnamon buns could be a Mel unto themselves. Highly recommend. It looks a little like a dive but looks are deceiving.

We looked at the reviews before we went here. The reviews made it sound like it was going to be amazing, but it was just average..It was good but, it was not 4.6 stars worthy.

There are fewer and fewer classic American diners in existance. There are even fewer that cook their own food and do it well. If you want trendy, if you want the latest fads about what to put into and not put into foods, go somewhere else. If you want excellent traditional midwestern diner food at a reasonable price in a clean place with friendly staff, go hear. I do.

My wife and I are long term Topeka residents. We went here yesterday for the first time. We had a late lunch / dinner of chicken friend chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes which was really tasty comfort food. The place is bright and clean inside, and the staff are very friendly. The service is fast. Everyone looked comfortable and was in a good mood. Had fun asking and answering trivia questions which are found on each table. We will go back here many times !

Great food and excellent timing. Great stop for breakfast when your in a hurry for mid afternoon start workday.

They have great burgers. The cheese sauce they put on the burgers make it extra yummy. I have never ate in there since I am always on the go and never had anything else since I usually don't order meals, so other than that the burgers are awesome!!!

Very inexpensive and delicious burgers and fries! A must for anyone looking for a cheap old-fashioned American meal.

Casual breakfast lunch and dinner place you order your food they bring it to your table good food good value for the money

I have been going to Cooks off and on for years. I have almost always gotten and cheeseburger and fries. Pretty simple, but good. We went today and I didn't stray from my normal fair, however, I was a little disappointed. My burger and bun were definitely overcooked. Boo. My daughter loved her kids meal in the car and my husband enjoyed is chicken club sandwich. I did not complain about my food as it was still pretty good.

One of my favorite places to get a bite to eat. Great food for a great price. Portion sizes are good as well. Double bacon cheeseburger is my favorite. Try fries with cheese or my favorite, fried pickles. Also their pie slices and ice cream are awesome as well.

I would go elsewhere if you're looking for a home-style meal...mine was nasty. Atmosphere could be a little better as well.

Very friendly and great lunch spot. Don't let the scary outside deter you! Burgers and Ruben were very good. Skip onion rings and potato salad. Fries are good!

Great local burger joint/diner. Nothing fancy, and you wouldn't want it any other way. Busy during lunch. They have pie! Good stuff.

I have had great experiences every time I eat here. Amazing food (cheeseburgers!!!!!!) and the pies will make u wanna start with desert. Staff has been great every time.

Great place for a quick and inexpensive meal. Ice cream was very tempting. Will go back!!

Was a outstanding place to eat as far as being a café. Went with my sister while we was visiting in Topeka, I will recommend this place to eat at when you are in Topeka Ks.

This place looks pretty beat down from the outside, but the double bacon cheeseburgers were awesome and at a good price & the service was great

It's nice to find a friendly local place that's a decent value. I ordered a reuben and was pleased with the quantity and quality. The patty melt was similar. The kids meals were a great value. The meals were served with plenty of fries, though a side of cheese sauce we ordered for them was a bit disappointing. The best part was the friendly helpful staff. If you're looking for a classic diner experience this is the place to go in Topeka!

Cooks has typical American fare. They have specials which they feature on their sign outside. It's a small space which can be pretty packed and chaotic when busy. It's just normal, homemade American food you'd expect at an old-style establishment. I really enjoy their meatloaf.

Favorite place in Topeka to get a cheeseburger. It just can't be beat. Always get the same thing. Double bacon cheese burger with onion rings. The onion rings are always good and crispy without being greasy.