Olympia Cafe

We found this café while walking down the street and decided to try it for lunch. What a welcoming place—everyone was all smiles even though it was a busy Saturday brunch. They recommended the Bulgogi Burger, and wow! We used to enjoy the original bulgogi burgers back when we lived in Korea, but this one was even better. We also had the chicken noodle soup, which was so delicious that we ended up ordering a second bowl. We’ll definitely be back another day to pick up food for our family. What a delightful surprise to find such a true food gem near our workplace!

Olympia Cafe is a hidden gem in Chevy Chase located in a neighborhood which has both locals and others visiting to enjoy a meal with a wide variety of food options. I would say it’s the perfect marriage between a 60-year-old tradition and contemporary vibes (new menus and renovated interior). If you are nearby or driving through, I highly recommend giving them a try. 😋

Great neighborhood cafe with amazing value sandwiches. My corned beef on rye was stacked high with lean corned beef, and was delicious. My friend's steak and cheese, on a proper roll that could stand up to the filling, was near Philadelphia quality.

We found this place by accident while walking around the neighborhood and we couldn’t believe we never heard of that place before. This place definitely needs more hype and should be added to local diner’s/cafes list cause it’s definitely worth going. The food is on point and the prices are decent. Basically it’s all you want when you visit a local cafe. Great atmosphere.

Best Bacon egg and cheeses. My go to quick breakfast spot. Why spend the same money at Starbucks when you can actually have good food

I love this place. Great coffee milkshakes, though it requires a little coaching ("Yes, just add coffee. No, the coffee is enough; no milk needed" ;-)

Nice place for breakfast

David and the staff are awesome, very friendly and a fun spot with great food. The cheesesteak and bulgogi are personal faves

Food: tasty and plenty of it. Ingredients fresh and well prepared. Service: quick Ambience: clean & cheerful

Went to purchase lunch. I ordered my food and waited for it. While waiting I watched 2 white me come in and the staff came running around to clean their table. When my food was ready I decided to sit but noticed all the tables were dirty. At that time the owner/manager asked was I going to sit and handed me a rag to clean the table. I asked did he expect me to clean the table. He then asked for me to clean the table and that was when I Said I watch the staff person come to clean the table for two white men but you are not offering me the same service. He then told me he was not going to clean the table. The staff person started yelling she would clean the table only after I explained his behavior was bias and appeared to be racist. I suggest NO person of color eat here and people of color boycott this place!! I felt uncomfortable and shamed in front of the other customers.

I love the food very much. The people are very nice and respectful and the service is great, the food comes out very fast and it's delicious

First time here but the food was great!! Had the country fried steak with fries and coleslaw, and a Grilled chicken wrap and the quality was too notch

Very convenient location. Food is good. Staff is friendly. I would recommend this restaurant for people who work in trades it's an old restaurant and sitting is limited.

Unpretentious! Ladies with their hair under bandannas hover over the grill while Korean order-guy hands you a Wet N Dry cloth with your change: "You can clean table!" Beveled mirror wall, orange vinyl, orange formica, the bar stools aligned by the counter, this place is an anachronism. Fluffy blueberry pancakes, properly over-medium eggs and hand-sweetened coffee (how many sugar spoons?) will bring me back!

Just another hole in the wall justifying it's prices because they give you a whole lot of french fries with something slight.

My husband and I were in the area and stopped at this little hole in the wall for a light bite to eat. Cute, retro classic 70s feel reminiscent of my childhood, with counter seating, booth or table. Place looked like it hadn't been updated ever, but I like that. It was clean! A variety of menu items to choose from, including full on breakfast platters, a variety of coffees, soups, sandwiches, milkshakes, candy bars, bags of chips, sodas and they even have Bubble tea! We were having an early dinner; more like a late lunch, and split a Turkey and Ham sub with lettuce, tomato and mayo. We added bacon to it, and a side of crinkle cut French fries. They gave my husband and I a massive portion. They did not skimp out. Service was friendly. Food was delicious! Our sub roll was soft and fresh, meat was plentiful, bacon was crispy like I like it. The French fries were great! Hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I have absolutely no complaints in regards to food and service, and will definitely return again if I'm in the area. Sandwich and fries were around $13. The only complaint that I had was the restoom was dated in a bad way, super small and musky. If these folks can upgrade their restroom, I'd say it was a near perfect sandwich shop! Oh...and if you really want to get that nostalgic feeling, I spotted old school glass bottles of orange soda available.

Throwback to 60s/70s dinerette. Sandwiches and breakfast at a reasonable price. Plus one of the few food options in this part of Chevy Chase.

Friendly employees and the food is good. I always seem to get the breaks fast food. Pancakes and eggs delicious

This restaurant is AMAZING! My dad grew up here with this place and always went there- to quote him, "This place is the best!" The food is delicious, scrumptious, heavenly, exquisite, and all the other synonyms of "delicious" I can think of. Their food is the most tasty I have ever tasted, and I always look forward to going there! My favorite food is their grilled cheese sandwich and fries and I also love their BLT! Their milkshakes and ice cream are mouthwatering! The people who work there always greet everyone with a smile and work hard to make the place feel like home- and I can say that they've definitely succeeded! It is the most homey restaurant I've ever been in. The staff are kind and welcoming, and anytime I've walked in, I have had some of the best meals EVER there! If someone asked me to sum up this restaurant in one sentence- well, that's easy: This restaurant is... THE BEST! It's so good, I can't even put it into words besides that. The Olympia Cafe (we call it The Corner) homey, the staff are friendly and they get to know all their customers, and the food- I can't even put it into words except: IT IS THE MOST AMAZING FOOD ON EARTH AND EVERYONE SHOULD TRY IT BECAUSE I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER RESTAURANT THAT SERVES FOOD AS GOOD AS THIS AND A BITE OUT OF ANY MEAL THEY HAVE ON THE MENU IS LIKE SINKING INTO A DREAM OF DELICIOUSNESS!!!!!! Best. Restaurant. Ever!! This restaurant is the best EVER in the whole world!

The owners are extremely tight about giving out ketchup. It's always a negotiation, which is tricky . Today I threw out most of my fries because when I asked for "extra" ketchup I was handed several of the little ketchup packets I HATE ketchup packets. Usually they at least give exactly one little container per order, which is totally insufficient. GIVE OUT MORE KETCHUP. BE MORE GENEROUS WITH YOUR KETCHUP. LOOSEN UP WITH THE CONDIMENTS.

This place is amazing! This was a place I grew up with. Times have changed, but this place is always like home. The food is amazing and so much like HOME-style (and sometimes with a KBBQ twist!). The people who work here are friendly and really get to know their customers. I truly recommend this place if you happen to be in the area. Watch out for this gem.

Middle aged, elderly, and white? This place is for you. You will get excellent table service, good food, and overall good hospitality. I visited this restaurant on Saturday, March 7th, 2018. The food was pretty good; 3.5 stars. The staff treated me and my date with service different from other patrons. We were not greeted when we entered, we were told to seat ourselves, we were told to retrieve our own beverages from the refrigerator, and we were told to pick up our own food from the counter. We were told to pay for our food at the counter as soon as we ordered it. We were on our own. Adding insult to injury, I watched other customers enter the diner after us, I watched the staff greet them as they entered, I watched them sit and I watched as their beverages were delivered to their table. I watched as their food was brought to them at their table. I watched as they paid for their food after their meal. I would not recommend this place to any non-white person. The staff weren't rude. However, the staff offered very different service to me and my date. The service made me feel unwelcomed. I would not recommend this diner.

I loved the old-fashioned ambiance that reminded me so much of my childhood. The service was excellent. It's not the most delicious food, but it's good enough.

I don't know why this has such good reviews. Dumpy restaurant and bad food. Made a trek out here for nothing. No phone service either so no one can hear you scream. During lunch time, it was mostly really old people and laborers.

Best Grilled cheese & Bacon Egg and Cheese on Bagel in town!!! Seen people never had this but never seen people only had once!!

A neighborhood gem for breakfast and lunch! There's something for everyone on the menu of this casual spot that takes you back to another era. The staff is exceptionally friendly and accommodating; they always remember that my son likes extra ketchup and they go out of their way to make you feel at home. My kids love riding their bikes or scooters down on the weekends and grabbing a seat at the counter. The chicken salad pita is scrumptious as are the cheesesteak, burgers and fries. My son would eat a meatball sub there twice a day if I'd let him!! A special neighborhood spot. Two giant thumbs up.

Family friendly dining and yummy affordable food! The service is good and the people working there are nice. Love to come here with friends to just sit and chat.

Wonderful neighborhood restaurant - great for people of all ages. They serve classic fast food as well as Korean dishes. Their beef bulgogi is delicious.

Had breakfast today. Used to go to this place in high school and I've been coming back ever since, 20+ years.

As Buck's Diner is to Silicon Valley, so the Olympia Cafe is to Chevy Chase. Except the Olympia has more Maseratis parked outside. Is that a couple of Bethesda private equity guys over there doing a deal? Do those guys from Fannie Mae a few miles down Connecticut think we can't hear them? Are those two clowns really going to start a company? Unlike the American Diner on Connecticut you are not going to read about this place in the Post. Too many middle school kids ordering ice creams or yard-men grabbing a sandwich, but go there a few times and pay attention and look around and say hello- and maybe you will get that seed funding you are looking for. But don't just go there for the clientele - go there for the basic diner offerings - with a few blue plate and Korean specials thrown in. My only complaint is that I wish they would change out the frying oil on a more frequent basis than once a decade. You must know three important things before you go there: 1. Never, ever, order from anywhere but the designated order spot along the bar. 2. Don't even try to get a breakfast item after 10.30 a.m. 3. Whatever you do - don't feed them after midnight.

My go to place when in the area. All walks of life can be seen here. The employees are friendly and know how to run a tight ship. It's one of those places I'd go out of my for. Have gotten breakfast sandwiches, when paired with hot coffee, and Olympia's atmosphere there is no better way to kick off the day.

I yearn for this place to be better -- I live in the neighborhood and want to make this a regular spot. Who wouldn't like a charming, throw-back, friendly place like this with this great staff? But the food is just not good. A few simple recommendations to the restaurant based on my most recent meal: 1) Throw out your waffle recipe (if you're using a recipe and not just Sysco mix or something like that) and make something with better flavor and texture. The waffles tasted more like a machined material (e.g., cardboard, foam) than food. 2) Serve higher-quality, real maple syrup instead of the corn syrup-y substance you're serving now which has no flavor. 3) Use real, genuine eggs instead of the watered-down flavorless eggs you're using now for scrambling. The difference is huge. These standards, to serve real as opposed to artificial, higher-quality, flavorful food should extend throughout the menu. It's hard to keep coming back as a customer when the food seems and tastes industrially-sourced. I really want to support your business and be able to write a positive review, but the food simply has to improve, and this requires a commitment and attention to quality that is not currently evident.

Ok, well maybe this place only deserves three stars when it comes to cuisine, but this place is important to me. From riding my bike here as soon as my parents would let me, escaping for a lunch break from my job renting videos from next door, to playing video games in the arcade after high school days The Olympia Diner has been a mainstay of my formative years... I also make a point of visiting every time I'm home. While the place has had a major facelift-- and frankly I liked it's shitty old style more-- this place still does amazing business... Now that I'm all grown up, I think that Olympia's sustained business has more to do with horny contractors than the food-- they're all in love with Anne, the flirtatious proprietor-- but to discount the food would be a mistake. well, half a mistake. It's a dark and dingy greasy spoon... You'll get what you expect, but there's something to this place.

Amazing family friendly diner in Chevy Chase. The chocolate pancakes are delicious. Excellent service and reasonable prices.

This is NOT a coffee shop- so don't be too surprised. What is it? It's a counter-style diner that makes all the American classics (burgers, fries, dogs, grilled cheese, etc.) and their signature dish, the beef bulgogi. There are about ten tables inside, and large mirrors all over the walls. It was pretty busy when we were there, and the loudness wasn't helped by the staff screaming orders at eachother. The bulgogi tasted ok- it was soft and mild-flavored. Even the kimche it came with was toned-down to satisfy the American pallet. It wasn't the best, nor the worst I've ever had, but I left satisfied, until later that night when it gave me a horrific stomach ache. I have a pretty strong gut, so that was a surprise. The prices here are pretty good though, as you'll see other people mention. It's a very popular place in the area, and it's cheapness seems to be it's main attraction, considering the mediocre quality of the food. If you're in the area and need a quick bite, this place does the trick.

I LOVE Olympia! It's a secret gem in Chevy Chase that deserves props for their long standing greatness! Been going there since I was a pre-teen with my sister after school, and in 20 years it hasn't changed. I hope it never does! Awesome breakfast and lunch grub; you really can't go wrong with anything you order. Especially love their classics like chili dogs, BLTs and tuna salad sandwiches. Oh, and their fries are classic and greasy- just the way I like 'em! If you're looking for solid basic greasy-spoon food, this is the place. Food is really a 3-star, but they get the extra hit from me for long-time loyalty and love. Be ware that it can sometimes get a bit loud with lots of kids leaving school and young families in the afternoon.

When I worked in Bethesda, we used to go this joint at least once a week for lunch. It's pretty damn good, greasy fare. The Special steak and cheese is good and sloppy, and tastes great. Good fries, too.

What a dump. No amount of perceived charm, accumulated grease, orange formica, or barely comprehensible conversation can make you forget how lousy the food is, limited the menu is, or how everything is coated in a film of bacon and oil. You have to ask for napkins, ask for plastic cutlery, ask for ketchup (which is warm - its kept next to the deep fryer), and dont get me started on the bathroom. I just hope there is soap in the dispenser where the kitchen staff go. Can i give it zero stars?

This is a medium-sized diner run by a Korean family that is super friendly. Its up in Chevy Chase Village, MD, so not on the beaten path but worth a trip on a weekend morning or lunchtime. Decor is basic and place is clean. This is not a place you are choosing for a "date". (Not open for dinner, anyway). They have very reasonably priced ice cream cones for kids, though not lots a flavors. The prices are low; you order at the counter and pick up your food. For breakfast, try the Bulgogi Omelet. It is fantastic. They also have pancakes, french toast, eggs and hash browns. And for lunch they have your typical sandwiches but also offer some Korean specialities. They make their own kimchi, which in my book is always a reason to go back.

This place is a neighborhood institution. I remember coming here as a kid and sitting at the counter and eating bulgogi for lunch. I went back the other day for the first time since then and it was just as good as I remembered. It's also really inexpensive and they have a ton of menu options. They still have the stools at the counter, like at an old soda fountain. The food is all good and the service is friendly. I'll be back!

Don't be fooled by the name "coffee shop." The Olympia offers a full breakfast and lunch menu, plus pastries, and a great selection of coffee. This place is a "must stop" for me whenever I visit Chevy Chase, and the prices can't be beat. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and there is always the feeling that everyone knows one another. I normally visit for breakfast, and it starts my day off with a great feeling. Give it a try and you won't be disappointed.

I love my morning coffee and hate the wait - try the coffee at Olympia!! It is rich and nutty, no bitterness, and best of all you don't need to wait 5-10" to get it. Super convenient and friendly spot for good value food too

I love Olympia aka Ann's Place! The American food is alright, but Ann's Bulgogi combo is excellent and at 6.95 is a pretty good value too. The Bulgulgi combo comes with kimchi and rice and if your friendly she'll even hook you up with extra rice and kimchi. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about, but it's what you would expect from a quick takeout/dinner type place. Ann is super friendly and she runs a good business.I highly recommend coming here for breakfast or getting the Bulgulgi lunch combo.

very nice people work there. always friendly! they get 5 stars. food is good. problem: it can be incredibly noisey because unsupervised children.

The kids love it, generations have come and gone, they now accept credit cards (which is great), the food is VERY reasonably priced, their steak and cheese is divine, they are super friendly, they are kind to the elderly who come and go, they have a vast menu, they will stay open late for you if there's reason (end of season soccer team dinner), they are a staple of this community. No perceived charm says one reviewer? I'd hate to see what he perceives charm to be. Olympia exudes charm and the local community can't be happier.

My family has been coming here since we had children 20 years ago. My son josh always goes there and gets the steak and cheese with fries. Can't forget about their unbelievable mambo sauce. The service there is incredible. They even know my son by name.

Ive been going here since childhood, and the place has stayed the same, which is great. Cheap prices, quick and tasty food, and an authentic neighborhood feel keep me coming back to Olympia.