Sun Diner

If you’re looking for a great early morning breakfast spot in Nashville, Sun Diner is it! It has that classic old-school diner feel but with a fun, unique twist to the menu. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming — perfect for starting your day before Broadway gets busy. We ordered the banana blueberry pancakes, and they were amazing — perfectly fluffy with this incredible cinnamon butter syrup that took them over the top. The make-your-own omelet was to die for, packed with fresh ingredients and cooked just right. Coffee was excellent too — strong, smooth, and exactly what you want in a diner. The only downside is they don’t serve liquor, so no Bloody Marys in the morning. They do offer a few beers, but I’m not much of a beer person that early. Still, the food and service more than make up for it! There was no wait when we arrived early, but it was getting pretty crowded by the time we left, so I definitely recommend going early if you can. Overall, such a great spot — highly recommend stopping by for breakfast when you’re in Nashville! ☕🥞🍳

Old-school little diner nestled off of one of the side streets connected to Broadway. If you’re looking for health food, I suggest going somewhere else. They serve a slew of things like bacon, eggs, waffles, French toast, fried chicken, burgers etc… Loved how the seating was arranged, so you can see the staff behind the counter. It can get very busy in the mornings, so be prepared for a little wait. Service was fast and efficient! The French roast with berries was very sweet and enough to share. The fries were also super crispy!

I am giving this place 2 stars instead of 1 because it has a cool vibe and my server was friendly. I give the good itself 0 stars. I had the breakfast tacos, they had zero flavor. I had to put hot sauce and ketchup on them to give it some flavor. I only had the one dish so I can't speak on the other food but I do not recommend the breakfast tacos and likely won't be back ti this establishment to try anything else.

What is there to say, apart from Sun Diner ROCKS! We are UK visitors & its so atmospheric, great food and the service excellent, oh, and excellent value for money. Can't believe we've never been before despite being frequent visitors to Nashville. Keep up the great work & thanks.

Food was great and experience was great too! It came with a bit of a learning curve, lol, as it was our first time there — there was no line at 9am on a Saturday, and we walked in and were greeted and instructed to wait on “the wall”. We were the only ones on the wall when we had gotten there, and after a few minutes, a couple had finished and had gotten up, so we sat down in their space. After a few minutes seated, we were “educated” that you’re not to sit until they clear the counter and invite you to sit there — so just learn from us, lol. Our service and waitress was great!

Great food. The portions were insane. Fun place and concept. You have to stand in line and they call you up when the seats are ready. It's 3 bar style seating areas where the waitress is in the center to serve everyone. Food came out fast and I was happy. Would definitely return on my next Nashville visit.

Classic Nashville Diner Vibes with a Bacon-Heavy Menu We were in Nashville for just a day and wanted that classic diner experience—this place was it! The atmosphere is charming and music-themed, with a nod to Sun Records. The menu offers fresh, homemade Southern classics at fair prices. The only downside: if you don’t eat pork, options are limited. Most dishes include bacon or sausage by default and aren’t easy to modify. We ended up swapping sausage for mushrooms in the breakfast burrito, and ordering the avocado toast. Both were delicious, and I’d recommend it. Overall, a great stop for a true Nashville feel, just be aware if you have dietary restrictions.

The pork belly breakfast tacos were delicious. The menu is small but on point. I did see a review that did mention limited meat options other than pork and I can confirm that is correct. But the pork belly is awesome! Service decor and food all five stars! The Johnny Cash museum is next door to boot

I stayed in Nashville for 4 days and came here three times for breakfast. All three times I got chicken and waffles. I've had better waffles somewhere else. But, the fried chicken here, topped with gravy, and topped with their house made spicy pecan syrup, is unbeatable. The meat was tender and moist, coating was light and thin. Gravy and syrup balance each other off perfectly. My coworkers have gotten different things and all had very positive feedbacks. Service was fast and friendly. You wait at the door and someone will direct you to where to sit at the counter. If you want some good southern diner food, skip the long line down the street at Pancake pantry and come here. Highly recommend!

We had breakfast at the Sun Diner and overall it was a solid experience. I didn't order the sausage biscuits and gravy, but the guy sitting next to me did--and with only counter seating, it really feels like one big family. I ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs, and my daughter got eggs with bacon and cheese. The chicken fried steak was fantastic, and the eggs were cooked perfectly. The potatoes were just okay, nothing special, but not bad. What really adds to the place is the service--it's fun, friendly, and part of the charm.

Came in a bit before 10:00 on the last Tuesday of the year. True to from, there was a line wrapped around the inside of the place that moved surprisingly fast. Had the chicken and waffles, with sausage gravy over the top. I read some reviews that implied the waffle was meh, but I found it to be delicious. Maybe one of the best waffles I've ever head. The chicken was perfect and the sausage gravy delicious. Only knock I have is the OJ was promoted as fresh squeezed. Didn't taste that way to me, or if it was, it was squeezed a week ago. Service was fast and friendly. When we left, the line was out the door (it was 23F outside).

Our waitress was so great! The food is delicious and service was quick. We got the tacos, chicken tenders and French toast with bacon. All of it was delicious and under $65. Would definitely recommend and the diner feels so much like the old day and a place to chill and meet friends.

As is the norm here, we arrived at brinch time and stood in line against the wall. The line looked intimidating, but the greeter said the wait would be 10-15 minutes and she was correct. There are only 2 booths in here, everything else is a counter style seating- as we were just a party of 2 this was no issue but this may not be an ideal spot for large parties. We did see plenty of parties of 3 finding seats at the counter and several parties of 4 and 5 squeeze into the booths when they opened. I did the chicken and waffles and they were delicious!!! The chicken was well seasoned and hand battered. The waffle was thick and slightly sweet. My daughter did the creme brulee french toast and gave it a thumbs up. Our server was friendly and quick to pour and refill coffees and water. I enjoyed the meal and appreciated the service but suspect its a one and done spot for us because it was pretty tightly packed.

So so wonderful and quick! Everything fresh and the chicken is unbelievable. Don't miss out on the pecan syrup

I'm not sure what the deal was but both of us that dined here had upset stomachs halfway thru our meal. The service was really good and the portions are nicely sized where you could share. However, maybe it's something added to the food that messed up both of our stomachs. I had the fried steak with eggs and corn bread. I didn't enjoy it at all. Steak needed seasoning and the biscuit was dry. The seating is barstools and it mildly loud inside. Mostly from the attached restaurant that has performers next door. I wouldn't return. It was a cute concept.

We really really enjoyed Sun Diner. So much we went twice in our 4 day stay. Day1. Got there and 'stood against the wall' to wait for a space at the counter. Wasn't more than 5-10 minutes we got two seats. What to order, what to order. Wife got the million dollar quartet, and I got the Breakfast hash burger (double stacked with egg) and I destroyed it. So good. Fellow patrons told us about the 'secret' ketchup almost at the end of our meal (they have their own brand of ketchup that tastes more like steak sauce). Day2: We were pros. Bring out the 'secret' ketchup please. Breakfast burrito please. Sat again the bar, chatted with fellow patrons and told them about the ketchup so they can pay it forward. It's of the standout places we ate it, food and experience.

Cute, definitely popular, diner in the heart of downtown Nashville with only 2 (big) tables and the rest bar seating. We only had to wait about 20 minutes for a party of 4 on a Saturday afternoon- around 1230pm. The diner was lively and everyone was helpful. The walls were adorned with pics country artists and the space was clean. Their menu wasn't extensive which is surprising for a diner. Typically diners have loads of choices. The menu was only a one-pager! Ordered the "Pick 3 Omelete" [$15] which came with greens & potatoes. Also opted for a side of waffle [$7]. Both items were mouthwatering good! That waffle was sooo thick and the batter was excellent. The eggs were really good as well. The Sun Diner felt like a step up from "diner" food. Fairly priced for good food. Check them out, but be prepared for a wait!

My daughter and I enjoyed breakfast here during a quick visit to Nashville. It's fun how most of the seating is at the bar! The chicken & waffles were delicious and a very good portion size. I enjoyed the avocado toast. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive and it's fun to watch how quickly they maneuver in and out of the tiny bar space.

Be ready to wait... bar stool sitting only. Friendly service, cool atmosphere very hip. Food was good. It's a busy place with decent food. If you're going to wait in line go across the street to The Pancake Place.

Food was so so good! And they give a lot!!!! I didn't care for the biscuit but we all have different ways we like things. The service was super prompt and fast paced. This is was my first stop when visiting Nashville and def was worth it. The ambiance is cool - felt nostalgic

We had the best time here! There will probably be a wait but the workers are super quick and efficient that the wait is usually not long. We went here during CMA fest and we probably only waited about 15 minutes or so. The food was incredible! I seriously had the best waffle i've ever had in my life here. You also have to get the fresh squeeze orange juice, it's super good! Overall this place is a great spot for breakfast, and if you're a Johnny Cash fan you'll love the decor and the overall vibe of the place! We had a great time and definitely recommend the spot if you're in town!

Great food and staff, fun atmosphere. Had to wait a little for seating since diner is small but food was well worth the wait. Will definitely visit again

Really fun vibe with efficient friendly staff. Right next to the Jonny cash museum. My friend had the breakfast tacos and I had the cheese burger. Both as good as they looked. They move you along pretty fast as it's small and popular! Will definitely go again!

Cool retro place. Old school u-shaped counters where your server is in the middle and you see the kitchen behind them. Staff was awesome. So friendly I had the Sweet Potato pancakses. A sweeter pancake. So good. My wife had the avocado toast. Loved it.

Absolutely wonderful breakfast just a quarter block off broadway. When we walked in, it was packed. It seems to be all counter service with maybe two or three booths in the back. The music was all artists from Sun Records, and it did sound like they were vinyl reproductions. Wall art was pretty cool to look at too. The menu is not extensive, but has pretty much everything you could want at a diner. We both had eggs, potatoes, toast. I had the bacon and my husband had the sausage. I also ordered a side of french toast, well, because....diner. Let me just say, I have never started a review talking about potatoes. These were absolutely delicious. A mix of purple, sweet, and white. Such a surprise. Bacon was crispy, and for the first time ever, I wished I ordered the sausage. It was a sausage patty with a slight char on the outside and a perfect amount of sage and other seasoning. Delicious. The toast was a thick cut. But then, the French toast....amazing! It was a cinnamon bread, covered in whipped cream and syrup. No other syrup needed. Just true mouth bliss here. It was so enjoyable, we might go back again.

What a cute diner. Seated straight away. Nice atmosphere with a bit of Elvis playing in the background. Fun place for breakfast

This place was bustling at first glance, but the staff did a great job of staying organized and accommodating everyone who walked through the door. The wait time was surprisingly short, and we were seated quickly. The food was soooo good and tasty. The place was a little noisy but it was such a good atmosphere. Love the decor and service but great!

Small but mighty. Great downtown location just off Broadway. Service was old school, love the counter set up. Food was amazing. I'd highly recommend you grabbing breakfast here. Enjoy! Cheers

The Sun Diner is our go-to first breakfast spot when we arrive in Nashville. Their 'down home with a twist' menu has some for everyone. Great quality, great flavor and served fast and friendly. Biscuits and gravy are fantastic!

This was our first visit to the Sun diner in Nashville. As soon as you walk in the door, the room is filled with music from the 50s through contemporary. Lots of great pictures and memorabilia all over the walls and this place is a legit diner for sure. They have customers, they have counters, they've got a kitchen. Let's do this. The chicken and waffles were amazing. The chicken was juicy and lightly breaded. The waffle was so light and airy, not dry and dense like so many other places. The weight staff was awesome and this was by far our most affordable meal for the entire weekend. You can't go wrong with this place. One other thing that was amazing. Is that every other breakfast stop we walked by had a line out the door with 30 or more people. This place had a fast moving line inside that took virtually no time to get through and fill our bellies with amazing Southern comfort food. You must come by and try this place out.

We came here on our first morning in Nashville. When we arrived, it was already pretty busy, so they had us line up against the wall and wait for an area to open up at the high tops. This place is speedy, so you'd better know what you want before you come! The staff were fantastic and so friendly. The set-up is pretty unique for a breakfast place, all high-tops to sit at give it a very homey feel. The food is absolutely outrageous here. So delicious and came quickly and hot. Definitely a place to stop if you are looking for a good and quick breakfast place. A must-visit for all visitors to Nashville!

Great breakfast, service and open kitchen. We ordered Million Dollar Quarter, omelette, chicken fried steak and all was delicious. Sun potatoes is a mixture of potatoes with a pleasant sweetness which was a nice change. Recommend as a must eat spot when in Nashville.

There are few places where "line up against the wall, darling" is an endearment...thus is one. The diner, with great photos on the wall, is always busy so you wait against the wall for your turn on the stools, The ri.e passes quickly as you watch the efficient staff and a busy kitchen. On a recent Sunday mid morning, our wait was less than 15 minutes with a long line that nearly reached the door. So don't be discouraged. The food is basic and basically good. French toast is yummy and the eggs are cooked in lots of butter. We left full and happy.

We come to Nashville at least once a year for music. We typically stay Downtown (Bridgestone Arena/Rymen), and Sun Diner has been our breakfast spot. It's a small joint with wall to floor pics of country legends, great food and great service. Haven't had a bad meal or cup of coffee here yet. Their menu isn't large but they nail the dishes they offer with efficiency. I gravitate to dishes I wouldn't make at home, like short rib hash with arugula and hollandaise sauce, but the "basics" are yummy too. Some dishes can have a bit too much oil and/butter but you are in a southern diner, lol. Get there hungry and early.

First, the food: We ordered Crème Brûlée French Toast, Short Rib Hash, and Chicken N Waffles. All of these sound heavy and overly sweet, but surprisingly, everything was light and amazingly delicious. This may sound weird, but I was genuinely impressed. If Sun Diner were in my town, I would come here for breakfast every day. Second, the service: It was incredible. Even though there was a wait on Sunday morning, the food came out so quickly that the turnaround time was short. The wait staff was also very friendly. Lastly, I loved the open kitchen and the clean, cute diner atmosphere.

Loved it! Such a cool place! All our food was so so good! Quick service! Definitely try it!

Meh. Coffee tasted cheap and weak. "Brisket hash", hardly any brisket and cheap frozen hash browns mixed together, pretty bad. Chicken fried steak was obviously frozen pre-breaded chicken, gravy was definitely a pre-mix gravy. So I guess what I'm saying is if you're looking for a home cooked diner meal, this place ain't it. Nothing above pre-frozen average food. If you're looking for something above waffle house but below Cracker Barrel, this is your spot.

Wait was short, the staff was nice and the food was good. It was all so tasty and perfectly cooked. The ambiance was not one that I'm comfortable in but it passed. We met a busboy and he was amazing ! Great food -def a must visit

Classic for a reason. Definitely stop by Sun Diner for a fulls stomach prior to travelling. I normally am a savory breakfast person but the French toast was to die for. The counter top seating is vintage and the service is quick. Decent coffee and the food came out quick.

Customer service was great, staff was friendly and everyone worked together to make the food fresh & quickly. The food tasted amazing! The prices are great and the ambiance of the restaurant is good as well. They have a little diner feel and it gives you an "At home" kind of feel. The restaurant is located next to the Johnny Cash museum. It is close to Broadway and centrally located to everything else in Nashville. Highly recommend!

Heyyyyyyyyyy you guyyyyyyyyys! What can I say this place is awesome! Great food, great service, no tables all counter seating and it was an all around great experience!

Great location, nice an welcoming staff, seriously yummy food and the atmosphere is amazing! Seating is a new version of old diner seating. Did I mention the food was soooooo good. lol! I had Crème brûlée French Toast, my son had biscuits and gravy, my husband had short rib on hash browns. Oh and the sweet tea deserves a mention too.....5 stars!!! I mean when you're from the south you will be judged on your sweet tea and this was a winner!! Also, this would have been 5 stars but the hash browns were a little undercooked...but that's the only complaint. Otherwise it was yummy. When in Nashville you should stop in! I noticed a review that said no free refills on coffee or tea.... not sure where they're eating, but we had all free refills. No issues with that. And the portions were huge.

What a great place! Cool diner with bar seating (all stools with no backs, so could be uncomfortable for some). There are 3-4 sections with a server per section. The menu has standard southern comfort food. There are photos on the walls of Sun Studio artists so it's a nice Music City vibe.

Fantastic breakfast/lunch joint just off Broadway. Nice portion size, everything we ordered was great. Only downside would be for large parties 5+ that want to sit together as the seating is a serpentine counter and it gets very busy.

We weren't greeted upon entry. Granted the waitress was busy typing in an order. A simple, "good morning I'll be right with y'all" would've sufficed. The decor and theme of the place was cool. But they seat you and you'll likely be beside random strangers. Our food came out at different times a plate of chicken and waffles came out first for my friend. My food came out shortly after. I ordered French toast no whip cream. The wrong order a plate full of whip cream was placed in front of me and the server noticed a few moments later, apologized and swapped it out which I was grateful for. The center of the French toast had an awful texture! It was mushy as if it'd been dipped too long not cooked long enough. I also got a side of bacon which 2 pieces were undercooked and one was over done.

Biscuits and gravy was the perfect mix of fluffy biscuits and sausage gravy. Service is great! Go early and no wait. I love the 3 counters for service wonderful pictures on the walls. This use to be Sun records so memorabilia

Just read comment on the chicken and waffles to know how I feel. Great spot and very organized. Even if long line, they get you right in.

Perfect spot for a brunch off Broadway to recover. We were sat very quickly and staff took and served our orders just as fast too. Armeshia was our waitress and she absolutely made my day! Food came out hot and TVs in the diner made it more a nice meal all around.

Being a huge music fan, I was beyond excited to dine here. Sun Records was once home to the great Elvis Presley. Walking into this joint was like stepping back in time and I loved every second of it. Broadway was bumping and we needed a place to grab lunch. After a quick search on Yelp, I knew we had to stop here as soon as it popped up on my search results. There is only counter service and if there are no available spots to sit, you're waiting until there is enough room for your party on a line around the restaurant. We were lucky enough to grab a spot at the first counter you see upon walking in. The woman behind the counter was absolutely amazing. She was able to manage the customers coming in, telling them where to sit, while also handling her own counter single-handed. Breakfast is served til they close and that's all they serve. If your looking for something more lunch-like they have a patty melt (more on that later) or a burger. Honestly, anything you get here is going to be the bee's knee's. My patty melt was one of the best I've ever had (yea I said it) and as plates were coming out, each dish looked just as good as the next. Finally, be sure to grab merch on the way out. In addition to apparel, they have hot sauce and maple syrup. I obviously took those back home to NY with me.

Nice atmosphere good breakfast fast service but a bit pricey sat on stools at counter small place but fresh food

Food was great, cool atmosphere. Check it out for a good breakfast while in downtown Nashville.

We stopped by on a busy morning, but they are efficient and quickly move customers through. The server was ultra-friendly, the food was outstanding and it's a place you would frequent if you lived there. Highly, highly recommended.

Fun diner experience. I was a single so I was seated quickly. Staff was great. Food was delicious. And the customers around me were friendly. The music was killer!

I agree with other reviewers- it was a fun experience but I wouldn't have waited this long for did this mediocre anywhere else. I've had much better brunches elsewhere. But I do have to say that I was very impressed by our cheerful, efficient server. She was wonderful and I just wish I could remember her name to recognize her here.

I came here after all the hype from a Facebook group that I am in. I ordered an omelette. It is a choose three ingredients omelette, but they do let you out as many as you want. Just keep in mind it's extra. It seems when they make the omelette. They do not mix the ingredients in with the egg, which is typically how I like my omelettes, it's more of like an egg burrito. The food was great and the service was really quick, but I did not understand all the hype from this restaurant. I do think it's a cute little spot. I also love that it's small so it's very quaint. We got here right when they opened at seven which I highly recommend as it was getting busier while we were there. My Husband loved his order he got the pancakes so I highly recommend!

I'm really glad I found this place. What a great connection and tip of the hat to the city and the music of this town. Loved the lay out of the bars so the staff could easily take care of everyone. Simple menu with quick turn times once you placed your order. Sweet tea was perfect. The spicy chicken sandwich isn't like the traditional Nashville Hot Chicken, it's more akin to an elevated flavor buffalo spice.

Great food, excellent service, and fun classic diner ambiance. This diner offers a unique experience with a southern spin. The pork belly tacos were really good. The breakfast wrap with a bit dry, but loved the cheese crust around the wrap.