South Street Diner

No wait and the food was great. Had the smoked salmon Benedict, kids had soda floats banana and chocolate chip pancakes and got a cheeseburger to go for my pops. Everyone loved everything, moving south I definitely miss true up north diners with great food like this one!! Everyone was A1!!

Walked in late night at around 2:15 am, came by myself, and was able to sit in a booth. I ordered the maple pepper fried chicken benedict substituted with extra crispy French fries and a ginger ale. I must say it was quite delicious and really hit the spot!

The food and milkshake was great!!! Our server was great too, though I didn't catch his name. He always had a smile on his face and it looked like he really genuinely enjoyed working there. Highly recommend this diner, it was a great experience!

This is quintessential diner food! We had a hard time finding traditional American breakfast in Boston, so finding the South Street Diner was a true find! The hash browns are perfect, but the best parts are the wait staff and the atmosphere! We felt like we found the heart of real Boston, and we loved it. It is not flashy, nor is it over priced. Serving everyday food to everyday people. We went twice, and we will go back again when we visit Boston!

A classic diner right down the street from South Station, making it the perfect place for a meal before or after a long train ride. The service is always quick and prices are cheap (for Boston). The food won’t blow you out of the water, but it is pretty good and you get big portions. It being open 24/7 is also a big draw, I’m sure it hits the spot after a night out.

This is the diner experience you want in the US…booths, hot coffee, great portions, all day menus, mix of locals finishing night shifts, others starting their days and tourists like us…all greeted with the same welcome and enthusiasm. Will go every time I’m in Boston.

Went at a busy time (Saturday Afternoon) but I feel like I only waited 10 minutes. Sat at the counter. The vegan French toast was actually pretty great. $15 no topping not even powdered sugar no sides is kinda crazy. And it’s a smaller place, the music is pretty loud but you can still hear the waitress saying she is over working there and said she’s not staying her whole shift over and over. Every time she would serve a table actually.

Hit this place for breakfast on the first day of a conference. It was exactly what I was looking for to ha e a great breakfast with a good friend. Ordered the Crab Cake Benedict and it was amazing. The portions were also enough to fill you up. A few days later, after a night of bourbon and cigars, we needed something stil open at 230am I was the hero. I led my crew to this place and we waited about 5 or 10 minutes to get a table that would seat all six of us. As you might imagine the night life that was there was entertaining and was great to watch as we ate our food. It is an honest to God diner. About 8 seat at the counter and about 6 booths. No pretty plates or flowers on the table. Just great food with good service.

update: i tried the dish again & i was truly impressed! i loved the change in the veggies, the bok choy was a delicious choice. the staff was kind, and it's such a hidden gem. i'm in love with the breakfast ramen & will absolutely continue getting it when possible! original: this is a pretty neat spot nearby if you have a little time before your train or bus at south station! the staff are competent, the music is nice, the service quick. i got the breakfast ramen, which was really tasty but not quite what is supposed to be. the menu uses an outdated term "oriental" for the veggies, when it really wasn't accurate. it was mostly carrots, broccoli, celery, & potatoes. it was supposed to come with bacon but had chicken instead. i was also disappointed they didn't have any soy sauce. it was basically chicken noodle soup with ramen noodles & teriyaki sauce. i would definitely try again!

South Street Diner was an unexpected surprise; we were looking for somewhere to grab a filling meal near South Station, and this was a little less than a block away. Classic diner food sounded great, and boy, did this place deliver. We ordered a stack of chocolate chip pancakes, a roasted cinnamon roll, sweet potato fries (not pictured), and VEGAN (!!!) chicken tenders. I can speak to the chocolate pancakes were filled with chocolate chips and super fluffy, and the vegan tenders, which I haven't seen on ANY other menu, were both delicious. The service and spot make for a no-frills dining experience, but in a good way; our waitress was incredibly friendly, the food came out quick, and was just what we were looking for. Inexpensive, too! The space is small with only a few (somewhat cramped, but in a cozy way) old fashioned diner booths, and a ton of countertop stool seating. It felt like we had been transported back in time in the best way possible. I only wish I lived in the area so I could come back and try their benedicts, milkshakes, french toast. 5 stars!!

Day two of my east coast trip, still in Boston before we were heading up to Concord to stay at a haunted inn (that's another review). Decided we needed to try a little streetcar diner to get that local, Boston experience. It did not disappoint!! I'm currently posting multiple spots from my trip, so this review is not yet finished, check back soon! So many great places on the East Coast I can't wait to share them all!

I'm reviewing Friday night takeout ordered via DoorDash from SIL in Georgia, for my birthday. I wanted comfort food, was being difficult (super hangry), and lonely since my twin bro is now in Georgia with my amazing SIL. Anyway, the meatloaf and mashed potatoes didn't look like much but it definitely tasted better than expected and was a backup to the original place that was out of the meatloaf and neglected to inform us about the meal, only bringing the cake which was great but another review. Definitely happy with my comfort food craving being fulfilled so late on my birthday and grateful it was pretty good and worth checking the establishment out in person.

Solid diner. My partner and I got the diner special. Every time I visit Boston I stop by this diner! The food is good and the prices are affordable. I will say there is sometimes a wait and it is busy. Our waitress was friendly and was doing her best during the breakfast rush! The space is small so they do have trouble seating larger parties. Great for small groups or couples.

This review is based strictly on my takeout experience, as I didn't sit down to enjoy my food even though they are open 24hrs. I found this shop while searching for wings when I was in Boston for a few day, and they had the highest rating. It's definitely easy to see why! The wings were breaded (necessary), and VERY flavorful. Although they were buffalo (which is a flavor I typically avoid), these were tasty af. They were only slightly spicy, but seasoned so well. The fries were the star of the night, as even though they were takeout, they were super crispy, the spicy seasoning was on point, and they were piping hot! The one thing I have to take off one star for was the bleu cheese. It did not taste fresh at all and was maybe more gray than white. The service was on point, and the lady who gave me my food verified it was exactly what I ordered, and even gave me a drink while I waited. The restaurant is a typical diner, and it was cool to see so many people there at 1030pm just hanging out and looking completely comfy and relaxed. Will for sure return to eat in.

For our breakfast before heading to Portland, Maine, we went to @southstreetdiner. It's close to the bus station. It was packed inside and thankfully they had seating outside for us. Dad had Lemonade and shared The Diner's Special with hubby. It included pancakes, eggs, ham, and home fries. I was thrilled to see Frappe on the menu, so I tried a strawberry one. That was so filling and a meal in itself. Definitely stop in early since it's not a huge place. It's had a long history, established in 1947 and is open 24/7.

I am honestly shocked that anyone who's not getting paid to be a hater could sincerely give this place a negative review. It's a picture perfect greasy spoon diner, delicious GIANT breakfast, super nice staff, all the right vibes. Go here!!!

A great bang for your bucks. One of my favorite spots throughout my college years. Open 24/7, there aren't many places to get a hearty meal at a fair price past midnight. The service was always pretty good. Quick getting your food going and friendly. Late night in downtown just outside Chinatown is a fun experience, lots of people watching all day and especially at night.

This place seems to be hopping for a late night bite near Chinatown. Line out the door at midnight, etc. First meal in Beantown! It definitely has character... and characters! One of the older waitresses was a bit rude initially, but ended up being okay. The place was a little messy as well. The food was just decent overall. I had a turkey burger and fries. While the burger itself was not dry, it was quite salty. The tomato was pale in color and not very tasteful. The fries were not the best, but were okay. The man who was serving as the host outside was terrific.

Food: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Service: 1.5/5 This is the Dennys or IHOP of Boston after a night out or anytime in the day when you're looking for some cheap, fast, food. My friend and I came on St Patricks Day (Sunday) and we got the diner special and a side of French toast to share between us. This was plenty of food. I'm glad we shared as recommended by other reviewers. The food was good, no complaints, as expected and satisfying. If you just care about good value diner food you can stop reading here. However, if you care about good service and courtesy keep reading. My friend and I waited for about 30 minutes since it was understandably busy on St Patricks Day. When getting a seat they asked if we were ok sharing a booth with another pair which we agreed to. Once we ordered, it did not take long for the food to come. About 15-20 minutes into us eating, the man who shows people in at the front came over to us and said "not to rush you but there are people waiting for a table". Like tf you're rushing us wtf do u mean "not to rush you". Although I'm a fast paced eater and gobble my food in less than 10minutes, my friend is not and she eats at a slower pace naturally. It's not like we had finished eating and were just talking away, she was clearly still eating her food. We waited 30+ minutes, agreed to sit with strangers and now we're getting told to leave after sitting for like 20 minutes??? I was thrown off and quickly responded "um she's a slower eater and takes her time" and he left. To make things worse, my friend then saw this man whisper something to another waitress and the waitress audibly said "THAT's how they responded?" I get that there is a long wait outside for customers, but please value the customers you already have sitting. They only seem to care about getting people in and out. Conclusion: I don't recommend coming here during busy hours if you're a slower eater because they will rush you and get snarky.

It's kind of 3 1/2 stars but I will round it up to four. This is one of the few places that's open late around Boston, and they do make a pretty good patty melt, with two patties to boot. It's an old timey boxcar style diner, and after a strong rain storm, I was sitting up the counter and the ceiling was raining on me. But at least the food was decent.

A place for suburbanites ~finally in the city~ who miss the Denny's experience to go to. Refused to sit people at open tables during slow time. Literally had us stand for half an hour because they didn't want to sit pairs of people anywhere but in the back, although they were happy to use empty tables up front for their one-on-one chats. Consequently, we were also rushed when other groups of two walked in. Food was nothing to write home about. Can't even remember anything about it, it was such a non-entity and unmemorable experience.

Sweetest waitress Delicious food Cute vibes, very antique, 1950s Milkshakes= 9/10 !! Chilaquiles = 8/10 (great flavor, chips not tortilla, a little spicy)

My friend and I wanted lunch so we went to south street diner. We were sat on the counter because booths are reserved for parties of three or more. We ordered an apple pie, omelet, hot chocolate, and coffee. They ran out of apple pie so they gave us blueberry pie which wasn't the best. The omelet was good with a lot of potatoes. We never got our drinks but still we're on our receipt but the waitress was really nice and took it off.

This small diner really does the job! So affordable and serves SO MUCH. The potatoes are deliciously seasoned and crispy! Pretty basic diner food but gets the job done and is extremely satisfying. The staff is great and very attentive! Only down side: wait times can be long as the diner is pretty small and there is limited seating. Still a great experience! The juke box inside is a cute added feature.

Grilled banana bread was Amazing!! The burgers were just ok. Definitely get the banana bread. It's baked in house

Went to the South Street Diner recently and enjoyed the food and vide of the restaurant. Overall the service was very welcoming and good came out quick. We enjoyed the burgers! The tater tots are a must!

Amazing food and service! Not very expensive and the overall vibe was very nice. And the fact that they are open 24 hours is even better.

Rude. Unprofessional and the food is trash. Do not support this business! They are underpaid and complain in front of customers. Pay your employees better. They may treat your customers better!

We were staying close by so we stopped in at this diner. It is sort of a throwback to when diners were diners. The place is small but they turnover their tables pretty quick. The cooking is done essentially right in front of you as you dine. They have several small booths. For our breakfast we had the diner special which was two eggs, 2 pancakes, hash brown and bacon. We ordered a bowl of fruit and shared the Special. The food was good, quick and tasty. Overall, not a bad deal.

Great diner and love that it's open 24/7. We got a double cheeseburger and fries and their breakfast diner special on a Friday night. Food came out quick and if you're looking for solid diner food for a good price (especially by South Station), this is a place to check out.

Double hair plate. So sad yo get this. I was just trying to get somenthing to eat. Never will come again.

Stopped here for breakfast. Good diner vibe. Friendly people and staff. Food ok, not great. Convenient to South Station. I'll go back.

Delicious pancakes, eggs to perfection, and prompt delivery. The meals were delivered in very nice reusable bags. Yum!

When I walked in here, it was like a time portal to the 1950s we got seated right away our waiter was attentive to all our needs .I got a very big breakfast and it came out in 10 minutes. the food I got was really tasty

This is my go to diner whenever touch down the folks are nice and always gets mommy eggs right ,, my server today was extra nice and attentive

I just went to this diner for the first time today and tried a bunch of things there burgers were great the boston cream pie pancakes divine the chicken fingers and the French toast were delicious. I totally recommend any one to go. It's open 24 hours and is 2 blocks away from south station. The service was cozy and friendly. We fell in love with the staff and the place. Prices were good for the portions and took some stuff home. It looks like a diner it feels like a diner and I love the decor. Happy Sunday

I never give reviews but I feel the need to give this one since the service was so awful. After our meal at 2 am we were asked to leave the table since there were people waiting to eat and take our seat, (there were like 2 people in line) but we were told to leave over everyone else no idea why? We informed the waitress we would only be 5 minutes more since our uber is on its way never have I ever been asked to get up out of my seat at any restaurant in my life... actually ridiculous Even though we did eventually get up, we were later asked to stand outside in the cold?? Like you have got to be kidding me Talk about customer service.... Just awful.. be better to your customers!! One of the few places open in Boston 24 hrs but I rather starve than give this place business, just an awful way to treat your customers

Great atmosphere - late night post bars club vibes - expect to wait a little at prime time brunch and 230am lol

Finally got to try this place out after seeing the sign! Went here on a Saturday night and there was a 40 min wait so didn't get seated until after midnight. The food wasn't bad and the service was great. I can see why they're so busy, not only is the diner open 24/7 but it's in a great location if you want diner food after a night out with friends. I'd go again if I'm in the area or craving breakfast food!

The people working were so kind!!! The food was on point as well. Perfect diner food and it's cute inside. I had a great experience here. So glad it was open. It was raining, no one else had food around my hostel and I was starving. Thanks guys :)

Contrary to the three stars (it's more like 3.5), I really dig this place. I loved the ambiance: a throwback diner environment with traditional diner food. I drove from Vermont to meet one of my mentors who was in Boston for a conference. We wanted a uniquely Boston experience, and this diner is popular with locals and tourists alike. We arrived on a rainy Friday night and were welcomed by friendly service. If this is your place of choice, I definitely recommend the breakfast food. My mentor had an option off the dinner menu and didn't particularly enjoy it, but she liked the pancakes I shared with her. I also ordered eggs over easy, toast, and home fries. The eggs and toast were decent, but the home fries lacked onions and/or peppers and were overcooked (deep-fried instead of grilled or sauteed). We didn't get the eggs benedict, but we saw them run to other tables and they looked amazing. And they were doing quite a few takeout orders (in reusable bags instead of plastic, which is great). All in all, if you're looking for an after-hours food run with friends, this place is perfect.

Stopped in for a nice sit down breakfast and some mimosas . Ordered the Diner Special and it was big enough for the 2 of us to share. The food was good and the mimosas were great. Mask are mandated Staff was friendly Restaurant appeared to be clean

Reasonably priced food and you get a lot of it. Great place to full up in the morning. Service was some of the best of anywhere I have been in Boston. Leanne is great.

We came here two years ago, and we waited in line for two hours. It was worth every bit of it after a fun night out with friends. Here we are two years later visiting again and shockingly we had a 10 minute wait. The owner was so kind and the vibe is just as I remembered it. The food was so good both times as well!

A good, basic, old-school diner where the food is decent, the service friendly, and the decor straight out of the 50s. The crowning achievements, however, are: 1) it's open 24/7, which is great because 2) it's directly across Atlantic Ave from South Station (actually, the very busy South Station Bus Terminal). Useful. I had their signature breakfast (3 eggs, choice of meat, hash browns, toast, and French toast)--it was filling after not having eaten until 10 pm that day, and all cooked well. Another benefit is that the diner is significantly less pricey than other eating places in the neighborhood, which tend to be "high-end Financial District" cuisine, and upscale Chinese. Recommended for the hungry, the budget conscious, and the weary traveler looking for a meal.

On my six hour flight from San Diego to Boston I spent some time looking up late night spots to eat on a Thursday and didn't find many spots along our route from the airport to the hotel that were open past 10. I did see that South Street Diner was only a few blocks away from the South Station though and I'm a sucker for a good diner so made the short walk with suitcases in tow. The best part of the meal, and honestly the thing that caught my eye when looking at the menu on the plane, was the apple pie mimosa. It was unique and delicious and something that I'm really glad that I tried. We also got a blueberry mimosa but it was less impressive with just a handful of blueberries bobbing in it. As for the food, I was really not impressed. I chose a fried chicken sandwich that was on their special menu and it was super bland. It had a chunk of iceberg lettuce and a slice of tomato with a bit of mayo so it was pretty basic. I asked for some ranch to liven it up as it's my go-to trick but I was disappointed that the diner didn't make their own ranch and instead offered pre-packaged ranch which is always a disappointment. The fries were simply okay too and also needed seasoning. On the plus side, at least the piece of chicken was large and easily covered the whole bun. If only it tasted good too. In hindsight, I wish I'd indulged my sweet tooth and ordered the Boston Creme Pancakes that had originally caught my eye.

The dinner side of the menu (right side) is really good food, but I wasn't impressed with their breakfast. This is the absolute best place for a late-night dinner when everything else in the city is closed, better than the 24/hr McDonald's on Methadone Mile or that terrible food up the street at Jade's! Although the food is a hit, the prices are a bit too high, customer service is hit or miss, and if it's a busy night, you'll have to wait outside (in the cold) for both seating AND take-out.

Great spot. Exactly what you want in a small diner plus beer. I went in the morning but they are open 24/7 I believe so great to know for next time.

Cool little diner that's truly open 24 hours. The bathrooms were a little rough and so was the diner but I loved the overall feel. The service was alright. The waitresses were nice and food came out quickly. The food was just okay. Typical diner food taste. Waffle House is definitely better but this was a great late night after drinking option!

So my advice is if it's late in Boston and your hungry and there's nothing open, don't come here. They have Uber eats and Grubhub if you must, but don't come here. I don't recommend it. They have a pretty strict policy of only reserving tables for 3 or more - well that is if you're wearing fur coats and pretty dresses. Yep I'm visiting from out of town and it's pretty clear why this place has never expanded. The saying is people don't remember what you say but always remember how you make them feel. That famous Boston Bristle was in full display. We waited patiently in the cold; oh yes when it's late seating is limited and you will wait outside regardless of the temperature. So after standing outside for 20 mins and being told we couldn't sit at a table, we quickly discovered we weren't dressed appropriately to sit at tables. The food is just okay. Worth the heavy side of disrespect that came with the meal? Naw. Miss me with that. Our waitress tried to call out the obvious double standard (why I left a tip) but the manager looked at the floor when we looked at him for a reaction.

After a long evening flight from San Diego to Boston, my friends and I were craving a late night snack before checking into our hotel and calling it a night. After a quick online search, we were very surprised to find that Boston, at least this area of it, didn't have many options past 10:00pm, even for a Thursday. So we sort of ended up at South Street Diner by default, but we were also kind of excited as it is so cute (and random) and we were really looking forward to authentic diner food. Upon arrival we were shocked that it was incredibly crowded to the point that we were asked to sit outside since we had all of our luggage. Luckily this was not an overly chilly September evening, but had it been later in the year, our California blood would not have been thrilled! After it cleared out a little inside, they brought us in and were even kind enough to put our luggage in a nook by the door so that we didn't have to cram it into the tiny booth with us. Our server was also incredibly friendly and welcoming. The hospitality and customer service is the only reason that I am giving them 3 stars! The food was unfortunately less exciting than the staff. I ordered a turkey sandwich with a side of ranch for my French fries. I expect diner ranch to be creamy, smooth, and homemade, so when it came out as a packet that you'd get at a drive-thru, I was really disappointed. And it wasn't very good so I didn't use it, and therefore didn't eat my fries. The turkey sandwich was fine, but nothing to write home about. The best part of the meal was the mimosas. My best friend and I shared the Maine blueberry mimosa and the apple pie mimosa, which were both delicious in their own right. If you have to choose though, I'd recommend the apple pie mimosa as it's a bit different.

As the first place we ate in Boston for breakfast, I was hoping for the greasy spoon feel of a diner on the corner. And although it was located on the corner and it was a diner car, the rest left alot to be desired. We were immediately sat upon entry, ordered a coffee and one of the breakfast specials. The coffee was not good. Almost like the grounds were ran thru twice, or that pot had sat there through the night. It didn't have a taste whatsoever - and I am NOT even a coffee snob. My food was average - eggs, bacon, home fries and a pancake. When i go to breakfast places I really look for something that sets it apart from if I just made breakfast at my house - some spice, some alteration that makes it different. I didn't get that here. Everything was extremely bland. The most entertainment was the staff and we could easily listen in on the gossip and drama of the waitresses. Waitress was really nice, but nothing here makes it anything more than just OK.

Terrible. I don't know what else to say. The 1 star is for the eggs cooked well. Besides that, the seats are uncomfortably close. It's ridiculously warm in there, even though they have fans that are not on. The music situation is ridiculous. They have two different music. Radio is going at the same time with different songs and it makes it uncomfortably noisy. The waitress never checked on us. If I needed something I had to yell at her while she walked past. Save your money and go to a place that has a takeout egg sandwich. You'll enjoy it more.

The food is always good. You can go in anytime or night and have breakfast. A great menu a lot of choices.

Cool, vaguely 50s themed diner that's open 24/7. Being open late, let alone always, is rare in Boston so I definitely appreciate them. Even on the night shift all the staff, from the bouncer to the waitress, were super friendly. I came in looking for a place to wait for a late night train and they did not disappoint. The joint stated as a late night spot for factory workers and it has kept some of that rough and tumble authenticity. I was surprised at the large menu too, given that they are providing it around the clock. I got some Buffalo chicken fingers that were pretty tasty (though not very strong on the Buffalo sauce). Certainly better than I expected though of course nothing magical. The vibe is pretty cool so I'd recommend checking it out if you're into divey/50s aesthetics or if you need a late night spot to wait around downtown!

We stopped in here for breakfast/lunch. I am not calling it "brunch" because that would possibly create an impression of farty people who make $500K a year eating little muffins that are so unmuffin like that they don't leave crumbs, along with table cloths and hidden alcoholism by obscuring day drinking with the social acceptance of mimosas. We were promptly seated and immediately handed menus and had our drink orders took. The menu is traditional diner food but there was an added dimension of some Latino flavors. After working decades in food service along with being in hundreds of kitchens delivering, I can stand in front of a restaurant and read the vibe like a card reader in Salem Ma can give you insight on the visible and unseen parts of your being. I faced no resistance in trusting my stomach and pallet. I ordered an omelette. Anthony Bourdain talked about hiring new cooks. He did ask them to make any fancy stuff but if they can cook an egg. There are universal standards that most humans agree on. One of the few absolutes of the world. Almost cooked whites and runny yolk is over easy. Flip in over and cook the yolk, it's over well. I opted for their vegetable omelette. The joint was at capacity with a small wait. There were also some to-go orders to going out the door. Our food came with 10-15 minutes. I am an egg snob. If my passion and knowledge of egg was applied to something useful like investing money, I would be rich. The omelette was absolutely perfect. It was not soupy. It was not greasy. It was evenly cooked and the eggs were solid yellow and fluffy. There was enough cheese but not too much. It didn't pull. The vegetables were fully cooked, including the onions which were caramelized. I assumed they were prepped and cooked ahead of time. The home fries were deep fried as opposed to grilled. They were nicely brown, crunchy but not dry. The grease did not soak in which assumes the oil was relatively clean. The toast was fresh. People in Boston generally have excellent work ethic. The people in this diner reflected this. You can do a million things with eggs but so many people just can't do the basics and make them right. This restaurant reflects the spirit of working class Boston. Last, salute to our server who was thorough, careful and efficient. She too took the experience of feeding people, making sure their cup was full and that they were able to get on with their day by not waiting for their check. She cared about what she was doing. You can go to hundreds of different restaurants in Boston and eat all sorts of pretentious small plates of whatever and pretend to be smart. You can also come to this diner where they do everything right and leave satisfied, with a satisfied gut and get on with your day.

Iconic breakfast joint that has been featured on a number of TV shows. It's certainly the real deal. The staff is a motley crew. Our server Susan was super friendly and paid close attention to our table. The restaurant is super small and you're packed in tightly. My seat covered half of the bathroom door, so there was a lot of traffic. There was probably about 5 inches between our table and the next. You get the idea. I got the meat lovers omelet and the fiancé got the chocolate chip pancakes. Food quality was standard diner fare. I was most impressed at the owner's active role on the floor. He stopped by to help expedite food and schmooze with tables. Nice touch.