Norma's Cafe

Driving through Dallas and stumbled upon Norma's cafe. Very clean restaurant. Our waiter was very attentive he had a lot of tables going, but he got them all. Our order was correct and the food was excellent. The biscuits and gravy with grits are the bomb. The chicken fried steak was very delicious onions rings right on point. Lemon pie with the meringue is excellent. Stop by and grab some good food.

Are you hungry? Then stop scrolling. There’s a reason Norma’s Cafe has been open since 1956. We just moved to Dallas and this was our first time coming here. The food was amazingly delicious and the service was exceptional. If you’re from the NE, this location gives off a diner vibe in all the good ways. We will be coming back. Also, thank you Regina for your hospitality and great service!

Nice little hometown feel all day breakfast diner with homemade food, and a lot of options to choose from for foods to eat. I ended up getting the homemade biscuits with [sausage] gravy (There are a lot of gravy choices here so that’s important haha). The biscuits were melt in your mouth and buttery, and the gravy was well-seasoned. My friend got the meatloaf with fried okra, and mashed potatoes with [brown] gravy. The meatloaf with red tomato sauce with peppers over it was really tender, moist and delicious and the gravy on the mashed potatoes had a really good flavor. The interior could use some updating, but that’s par for the course for a hometown diner, and it’s clear from the patronage and the parking lot that this place is well-loved.

It's a nostalgia thing. Food is not amazing, it's just simple, standard, but something about eating at a dinner draws us back to this place every time. Decent prices, great staff, speedy service. We do love going to Norma's and many others do too because on weekends it's always packed with long waits.

Fantastic service by Liz and De-frickin-licious food!! One of my Best foodie friends and I came to get a bite and were not disappointed!! We got a the awesome hand battered onion rings to start, shared a mushroom burger and yummy tots and, by recommendation of the very kind Lisa, we shared a piece of coconut cream pie. Boy was that a creamy and perfectly flavored coconut pie! Liz and Lisa were so helpful, patient and very cool. Def recommend this whole place!

Food was good & portions were large. Our only complaint was the coconut cream pie was mostly merengue. The coconut layer wasn't even as deep as the crust. It cost $18.99 & I have to say, it was definitely*not* worth it. I posted a couple of pics. The chicken fried steak was good but not appropriate for those with dentures. The chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, dressing, corn, cream gravy, fried pickles, & CBGB were really good.

Norma’s Cafe is the definition of classic comfort food done right, and it absolutely deserves a five-star review. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like home. The décor has that timeless diner charm, and the staff is always friendly, attentive, and genuinely happy to see you. It’s the kind of place where hospitality feels authentic. The food is nothing short of outstanding. Norma’s is known for its hearty portions, and they deliver every single time. The chicken fried steak is legendary—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and smothered in rich cream gravy. Their breakfasts are equally impressive, with fluffy pancakes, perfectly cooked eggs, and bacon that’s always crisp. Don’t even think about leaving without trying their homemade pies, which are the perfect sweet finish to any meal. One of the best things about Norma’s Cafe is the consistency. No matter when you visit, you can count on a delicious meal served hot and fresh. Prices are more than fair considering the quality and portion sizes, making it a great value for families, friends, or solo diners. Norma’s isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a Dallas institution. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, a meal here is a must. Five stars, without a doubt.

Service was prompt! My order had came out different from what I ordered, but was replaced relatively quick. I love the country breakfast with the chicken fried chicken, hashbrowns,over easy eggs and a homemade biscuit. My husband enjoyed his burger with onion rings. Ended with a big slice of chocolate pie.

Gizmo was the best waitress!! Food was very fresh and good. Best experience. Will be back when in this area again.

Came in with a group of nine mid morning rush and was seated and served quickly. Gizmo was super friendly and fun to talk to. Not even mention the food that was fantastic and really good price. 11/10 will be coming back.

Yall i cant say enough good things about this place We live in east tx but had to stay at the hospital and found normas near by anx man oh man the best pie and comfort food and wonderful service I wished we had one back at home been craving it since i left Amazing i love some good southern comfort food

I pick up deliveries from Norma's all the time and now I see why. Complete southern comfort and I will back. Now it's time for my nap.

Thank you Gizmo for your exceptional service and delivery! You went above and beyond to ensure that our experience was great - thank you for your attention to detail, hospitality and upbeat, positive attitude.. breakfast this morning was fun because of your amazing personality! Many thanks and we'll be back again soon, job well done!

Location Downtown Oak Cliff. Parking Large side lot and street parking Fun fact Established in 1956-now 5 locations in DFW area Historic pictures on wall Atmosphere Local diner Seating Counter, booths, tables-good for groups Menu Breakfast all day, Mexican breakfast options, lunch, dinner. We had Norma's breakfast-eggs over medium and scrambled. My husband had the scrambled eggs-I usually don't order there as they tend to be greasy but t these were PERFECT!! Best ever! The bacon was crispy but t a tad greasy, the grits were creamy and tasty, the toast was evenly toasted and when we asked for butter-no problem! My husband opted for tomatoes instead of tomatoes and the serving was generous. They offer pies, cheese cakes, cobblers, cakes-looked so good. T They serve large biscuits and corn bread with entrees. These just keep coming! The chicken fried steak with bacon was ordered multiple times. Christina and Jennifer took excellent care of us. The iced tea was excellent. Summary Centrally located, historic, neighborhood spot that is a regional chain. Very popular-awesome service, great food, love this place!! I want to try more of the menu!

Our dining experience at Norma's was nothing short of delightful. The menu has an array of dishes that celebrate local/southern flavors. Our server, Keisha, deserves special recognition for her outstanding hospitality. As out-of-towners from Kansas, we were delighted by Keisha's friendliness and genuine interest in ensuring our dining experience was nothing short of perfect. We left feeling like we had discovered a hidden gem in Dallas. If you find yourself at Norma's, do yourself a favor and ask for Keisha. She is amazing.

Big Fan of Norma's in Plano. My favorite thing is pecan pancakes or waffles. This location couldn't do them on the inside for some reason but food was still good. Parking is a headache that's about it.

Well, me and my man went today love the meatloaf didn't like the tomato savory sauce. They put on top, but it was still good. Mashed potatoes, good macaroni off the chain. The cornbread can use a little bit of sugar, but it's still good. Wasn't too fun of the green beans would like a little bit of butter maybe some bacon in there, who doesn't have mistakes in our kitchen I've been wanting to come for years and I do even though I complain it here and there, but still hospitality was great. The server gave us her name, but I forgot it Mexican girl with the glasses when you once you go in on the right hand side, and tell my kids and grandkids to try it out to try everything on the menu little by little to see what I love the most took me chocolate cake home. We'll see how that is.

Saturday AM 3/2/24 Short stack Pancakes were burned, and arrived cold, butter wouldn't melt. server just said I'm sorry. No offer to replace them, I didn't eat both pancakes. Server overwhelmed. Extremely disappointed. I've Been here before and had good experience, but not today.

So as y'all can see I tried again (after 10 months), the chicken fried steak is tough and the batter comes off before you can cut into it (do not try to use plastic cutlery they provide you need a real knife) he left over half of it. The hash browns are burnt ( guessing they only have 2 options: WELL done or raw).The chorizo/egg tacos are good after you PEEL off the wrapper they come in. The oh so delicious cinnamon roll wasn't, received a brick. Idk why I tried. This place just isn't what it was years ago. 4 people tried to cut pieces off the roll (we gave up). Our Mother's Day breakfast at home was a JOKE.

Given all the previous five star recommendations we decided to come into Norma's Café before going to the Dallas zoo for the totality eclipse. To our delight, we met Gizmo. A very personable, friendly, funny, and best waitress ever ever ever. 73

Gotta love having a classic 1950's diner experience and the OG diner is still alive and busy as ever since opening in 1956! This location is easily recognizable in the classic photos you may see in the other spots. This is a small chain around Dallas done RIGHT. With multiple awards and one large menu, there's sure to be something to satisfy your cravings here. The famous motto - life's short, eat dessert first - rings true when you order the Big Ole' Cinnamon roll (yes.... It is extremely big - as marketed. Honestly, do not expect to finish the entire thing with a full breakfast). Smothered in warm frosting and freshly baked you can't go wrong. Pro tip: get it with chocolate milk and thank me later. Also got the mexican breakfast, which was delicious. Hot and to order with some crispy hash browns, I was very happy. Couple glasses of Orange Juice and I was a happy man. Service is outstanding, they take care of you and treat you like family. Please go see for yourself, you won't be disappointed. Sit wherever you'd like, get great food, dine on a budget, take some home, and make new friends. What more could you want? Cons: Parking is limited - use the side streets if it's packed. Only two bathrooms, suggest not needing to use them while you're there with how busy it gets.

What an amazing dining experience.great food and excellent service from Gizmo/Kathy. Always observant and timely. Everyone should visit here on a regular basis. The original location.

Extremely friendly waitress. Very good service The food was good. kind of a cool atmosphere, they also very much support local firefighters which I love. Would definitely go here again if I'm in the area

Derives was great. Gizmo was amazing her suggestions were so delicious . Definitely coming back.

Update: Decided to go back for breakfast. The place did not disappoint. The cinnamon roll was huge and worth getting. I'd recommend sharing with people because you'll need insulin going it alone. The server was a bit gruff but she got the job done. I'm there to eat not make friends so it didn't phase me. Some background noise but it's not deafening and you can chat with people with not issues. You really gotta eat here.

it's not seasoned. Mashed potatoes were runny. It was really bad. The only thing good was the black pepper. chicken fried chicken was soft and tasteless. The cream gravy didn't have any flavor no matter how much salt and pepper we put on it.

Norma's was a unique place for breakfast. After a quick search of Yelp I decided this was a must try. None of us were disappointed! Daughter got the Belgium waffle - pretty typical waffle and according to her it was very good. My wife got the eggs over medium, crispy bacon and hash browns crispy. Got a definite thumbs up from her. Now I had to be different - breakfast is basic and I don't want to be basic. I can have eggs, omelette, waffles, or pancakes anytime.I scanned the menu and decided on the Chilaquiles. Actually was very good but had to ask for additional salsa. I may have to experiment at home and try to recreate. Couldn't actually give a 5 Star but i would recommend to try. The biggest draw back was the parking. Luckily after I dropped off my party I was able to get a spot.

This was my experience with Norma's café. In a nutshell, do not go to this place. Upon entering there was no hostess and just a sign in sheet as I was signing in a waitress by the name of "gizmo "said "everybody get outside it's too packed now!" She proceeded to be absolutely rude to everyone in the front. Once our name was called, we sat down in our section unfortunately "gizmo "was our server. She dropped menus off and took at least 15 to 20 minutes just to bring a Diet Coke and a cup of coffee. We finally placed our orders for brunch. Food took about 30 minutes to get to us, gizmo never came back to the table to fill drinks or check on us at all. When she did return, it was only to say "are y'all ready to pay now? " the complete lack of service and food quality was horrendous. In fact, the AC vent hanging above our table was put together with clear duct tape and was falling down. So in a nutshell, service, one out of 5, food 2 out of 5 and ambience -0

I love diners like this - and this one seems great.... But the day I visited they were in the weeds so bad it was too disastrous for me. First off - the weather was bad and it was icy cold inside. Please turn some heat on - if you're warm cause you're running and working in a hot kitchen- don't pass on discomfort to your customers. The place did not appear to be very busy. But the servers were stressed and nothing was working. I witnessed many disgruntled customers. ie; someone left cash at the pay station and walked out cause they couldn't wait any longer to be helped. A man came and ate at the bar, finished his meal and left in the time it took me to get my order in at a nearby booth. At one point or another I used the restroom and it was one of the worst I'd been in since I was at a National park using an outhouse. A few members of the waitstaff were quite loud and even a bit vulgar with their attitudes about the restaurant not working well. Unfortunately my food came as quite the disappointment too. If I had eaten anything that day or not had somewhere to be, I would call it inedible. But I was late for a work engagement and was starving. So i forced down some of the food here and and left. I did mention to my server a few issues and she comped my meal, which was nice. But I would've preferred a better one.

Enjoyed the ambiance even though it was a little loud today but that's just because it was busy. My food was good especially my my bacon, which was the right amount of crispness.

Gizmo treated us like family! We so enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and hometown hospitality! We will be back!

Food. AND service super as normal. We are stuffed! We arrived a little after 1PM and it "seat your self" - no wait We will be back!!!

My ribeye was cooked to perfection but my double mashed potatoes with brown gravy was cold. I don't know how it happened. The crazy part is the gravy was still delicious. The service was good as usual. The waitstaff is attentive. The atmosphere has a home like feel. I love their breakfast as well.

We came from Austin on a little staycation. Stopped by Norma's for breakfast and it was incredible. Huge portions, delicious food, and incredible service. Gizmo was INCREDIBLE!

There's nothing fancy about this place but two things you know you are gonna get here, good food and affordable prices . . . And great customer service to top it off. This is a diner set up, think blue plate specials, great desserts and did i mention good food and affordable prices? The pancakes are huge, the bacon is thick cut, the desserts and delicious. Seriously, you can't got wrong at Norma's. I actually bring folks visiting from out of town here to eat and so far no one has been disappointed!

I order carry out from Norma's all the time and they always get our order right. The food is great and the prices are reasonable, especially considering how large the portions are. Our orders always arrive quickly, so they clearly have their kitchen in order and management is doing their job well. My boyfriend gets the Breakfast Tacos every time, which he could live on, and I agree they are delicious. I get the classic breakfast or the club sandwich (sometimes I get both and save the club for later, it is super yummy). We also get the chicken tenders dinner plate- the tenders are perfect and I love all the options they have for sides. Even if we aren't going to eat it immediately, we get the tenders meal sometimes to save for later because it comes with 3 sides and 3 tenders, so it's a great deal. I've only eaten inside the restaurant once, but the service was great. They often have a line outside, so clearly there are many people who like eating inside. For a cafe in Dallas, Norma's deserves 5/5 stars. Highly recommended!

Came for dinner. Food was bland, sorry to say overrated. Will stick to Cotton Patch. Waitress was very sweet, great customer service though! Maybe breakfast will be better

This is one of the best classic diners that you can go to for some good food. If I could afford it, I would go there every morning for breakfast. The place is generous with its portions, and the amount of food in just one serving is enough to tag you out. However, show up hungry enough that you have room for dessert for what I believe is one of the best things there. That being their giant cinnamon rolls, with just one being the size of the plate they just used to serve you. I do recommend you eat while it's still hot and fresh, that being the best time to eat of course. As for the place, it has some great decor, my favorite being all the interesting stuff on the wall(army ones my fav). Not forgetting the service, even when there are quite a good amount of people. Your food will still come quickly and hot while still look

So after hearing about Norma's from some friends for a couple of years I finally convinced my husband to make the drive to go! I liked that this location has its own lot which made parking easier. We got sat right away & service was outstanding! My husband got a meal but didn't expect the cinnamon roll to be as huge as it was. I was surprised he was able to finish everything. We took a slice of pie home, and it was delicious! We for sure will come back, likely trying lunch the next go around. For sure worth checking out!

Gizmo was our waitress and she was Amazing! We are from out of town near Louisiana and we stopped to eat here twice because the food is so good!! Service is friendly, fast and fun. They took the time to visit with us and made us feel welcome. This is the BEST home cooking restaurant I have ever been to. Everything is fresh and delicious. 10/10 recommend!

I absolutely love it when businesses make things right with their customers. I took them up on their offer to give them another chance, and from start to finish my experience today at Normas on Park Lane blew me away. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by the staff as if you are a regular or as if they already know you. So many hellos! We had the pleasure of sitting in Calvin's section, and I don't think I've ever met a more service oriented waiter. He anticipated our needs, had a great sense of humor, and was just so personable. The manager, Debbie was equally as personable. They made our little lunch date into one of the highlights of our day, truly. The food was exactly what you go there for- down home cooking and lots of flavor. We were excited to hear they do catering and will look into using them for our annual fall family reunion. Thank you to Mr. Metzger, Debbie, and Calvin for an incredible experience and we can't wait to be back- those rolls and sweet tea are calling my name!

Yes Norma's! OC is so lucky to have you! Authentic, down home homemade like meals , breakfast, lunch and dinner. And the pies are all so delicious! My 90 y/o mom gets pie no matter what meal! We enjoy the wait staff who are thoughtful and timely. Just a great place to eat and hang out. I didn't give 5 stars because the parking is more limited causing us to choose not to eat there if there's no spot to park in the lot or even close by.

Norma's Cafe... Not much to say about em except I never can go Wrong with these Folks. Been eating at this spot for years. Picture waffle House style Dining meets Cracker Barrel Style Cuisine but always served with a Smile. Grabbed some To Gonlunch and even the To Go service was ON POINT. I grabbed the Monterey Chicken with Mashed Taters & Broccoli which is 1 of my favorites and then for my Next Day Meal, the Chicken & Dressing which Is has a Ridiculously Satisfying Portion. I got Chicken and Gravy over Cornbread Dressing, Mashed Taters, Broccoli, & Pinto Beans. Don't let me forget It comes with Cornbread & Rolls... There Biscuits are also the Dreams & Goals that KFC had BUT NEVER ACHIEVED LMAO!!! They're really Good. The only reason I give them 4 stars is because I always find my self adding Salt & Pepper to everything lol but Overall I LOVE THIS SPOT!!! A Real Dallas Gem!!!

I couldn't wait to go here and sure wasn't disappointed. I loved everything I ate! Will definitely be returning.

I was there with my family (party of 10, including senior adults and young children). We waited 45 minutes to be seated, watched other parties who arrived after we did be seated and leave before us. Eventually the waitress came to tell us that the restaurant was having a plumbing issue and would be unable to serve us. Management had this information, yet withheld it from us in hopes that the issue would resolve. The message was given to us by the waitstaff, and not the manager who made the call. The manager came and spoke to us only when we requested he do so. Had we been notified that it was a possibility that we would not be seated or served when management knew about the issue, we could have made a decision that would better accommodate our family's needs and not wasted our morning.

Came in for pancakes and was greeted by the lovely and caring Gizmo! Always makes me feel welcomed. Thanks for the hospitality

Norma's is one of my favorite spots for classic meals. The service is always fast and friendly. Gizmo is our favorite server! I've tried a lot of different dishes from the hamburger to pancakes. I haven't had one meal that I didn't like. The ambiance is classic cafe and they have open seating.

The food at Norma's Cafe in Oak Cliff is amazing. It is home style cooking and the food is always delicious. Their homemade biscuits, corn bread muffins and rolls are absolutely the best! The staff is very friendly and polite. You will not leave being disappointed!

Great diner style food at good prices. They were extremely busy and I waited almost 30 minutes for a table, but I'm glad I waited. They immediately start you with a corn muffin and a sweet roll brought to your table before you order. Breakfast is served all day, which is a bonus. They are a very busy establishment, so you will wait, especially if it's the weekend. The bathroom needed a bit of attention and I will chalk that up to them being very busy but it's something they should have stayed on top of.

Food was amazing! Atmosphere was fun and friendly! The best part of the experience was our sweet server Gizmo! This is 100% our new breakfast go to spot when we are in Dallas!

Great southern home style food, great service despite being phenomenally busy. The atmosphere is you fav homestyle diner type. Everyone was friendly. Chicken fried steak was a bit tough, both salad and Vega were great. Really Enjoyed it.

Once again this place never seems to amaze me. I popped in for a quick lunch while on break and some of the servers opened the bar area back up for me and I was in and out. Yes the line was out the door as usual but the staff got everyone seated and feed.

Saw Norma's Cafe featured on a Fox & Friends TV segment and had to try it while in Dallas for a convention. This place was amazing! The breakfast was delicious; my husband had an Old Number 7 (biscuit, eggs, bacon, gravy, topped with another biscuit) and I had an omelet, bacon, and the BEST biscuit I have ever eaten! We ordered one of their famous Cinnamon Rolls as a starter... delicious but we couldn't even eat half of it, it was so BIG. Gizmo was our waitress and she was a treat, with endless coffee and conversation. She took our order as soon as we had read through their extensive menu. She was so friendly and accommodating. We purchased a large salad and club sandwich to take back to our hotel for lunch and she recommended their peanut butter pie. Thank you, Gizmo, it was delicious. We would go back again in a heartbeat!

I was thinking few times before I am posting that review. Why ? Because I like Norma's. It's a dinner. I didn't expect much. The food was as I expected. The service to me even today. This morning was fantastic service. What I didn't like. Having a meal with my friend. And seeing on the floor Cockroach. That make me feel sick to my tummy. In away I didn't want to say nothing to the stuff. The reason why. It is sat morning. The place was busy. And I didn't want any client to see that. So I keep my mouth shot. I honestly doubt it I will ever go to that location. I know the place is not the most clean please. All you have to see is to look on the dirty floor. Or the ceiling that falling apart. However. The manager should know. You need to call your past control company to spray the floor. And the kitchen. This is not healthy or good for client to see Cockroach walking around on the floor. Again. To be fair. The service is great. The food is as expected to a diner

Normas cafe is a classic to me I'd take my family here for breakfast with the family friendly atmosphere and the simple breakfast dishes, I've came here more the once and left satisfied every time definitely recommend this cute spot

29 Oct 23 - visited the one on 75 by North Park. Service was absolutely horrid. Waiter was serving other people food despite them having arrived long after us. Many orders and plates were piled up sitting at the warming lamps. Waiter took over 20 minutes just to take drink order, then another 10 to bring them out. Sat and waited on food for over 40 minutes. When we finally decided it had been too long we went to pay for the coffee we drank and the manager had the audacity to ask us how many were in our party as if we had just arrived. That let's you know all you need to about how she is not on top of things. None of the staff cared. The place is nothing like it was 4 years ago. Coffee was cold. Bad service. Bad everything.

If you want hair in your food and drink come on down. If you want to wait 30+ minutes (and only 2 other people are there) to get your check come on down. Last but not least if you want your server to not take a single plate off your table even if its crowded and you have placed it nicely and conveniently so they can take it away come on down. Honestly had high hopes but was left very disappointed.

camt to Norma's for the first time. Gizmo took care of us as if we were her own children. She went far and beyond to make sure were taken care of. thank you so much for the great service and food.