Hoosier Cafe — Restaurant in Chandler

Woke up on Sunday morning only to discover that we were out of bacon. Since it's impossible to have Sunday breakfast without bacon, I decided to take the family to Hoosiers.

This was our first visit there. We had passed by several times and they always seem to be doing brisk business in the mornings, especially on the weekends. We got there around 9 AM and the wait wasn't too bad, around 10-15 min for a party of three. However the line grew a lot longer shortly after we were seated.

The dining room has that casual, come as you are ambiance you'd expect from an Indiana cafe. The decor is unapologetically plain, yet tidy and clean. There's not a lot of room, so expect to get friendly with your neighbors once the rush starts. There are a lot of windows, so that helps make it feel less cramped.

The food we ordered was also rather plain. It wasn't bad, just basic. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, country style potatoes: all of it checked the standard boxes, but nothing stood out from what you'd get at a Denny's or Village Inn. The biscuits and gravy were bland to the point where I just couldn't bring myself to eat more than a couple bites. However, the waffle my son ordered was delicious.

The service was outstanding, though. Everyone from the hostess to the server was friendly and efficient. My only criticism is with their payment process. Rather than paying your server you'll have to take the check up to the hostess stand. Usually not a problem, but during a rush a line to pay will back up into the dining area. It's kind of awkward trying to enjoy your breakfast with a line of strangers' butts a foot from your face.

All in all, a pretty mediocre experience, even by Midwestern cafe standards. Judging by the number of patrons crowding the place, I'm sure that Hoosiers has plenty of loyal customers that regularly frequent the cafe. I just don't think we'll...

So, not being an AZ native...I have learned to tailor my reviews with that reference in place. Meaning, my idea of a 5 star breakfast diner has fresh squeezed juice, homemade breads and/or jams, daily specials that are yummy, and fresh fruits, avocado, and veggies galore. Something that was worth me leaving home to pay for. Something more than just food I can already make at home, something that elevates the experience (I mean it's just eggs)

And seeing the 4.5 review I figured this was the place. 4.5 stars, way above average, this must be the place.

This ain't that place. They do make an average chicken fried steak. The gravy was good. The service was quick. The vibe dated but adequate and clean. The portions are huge, come hungry. It seemed like a nice place to take Grandma after church on Sunday and she will talk about for weeks. But if you actually want quality food with top tier fresh (not frozen) protiens and homemade breads, try somewhere else. (I mean they only serve breakfast and lunch, who can't make some bread or squeeze some juice in that time?)

3 🌟 due to lack of at least 1 fresh squeezed juice, no homemade breads, and overall dated menu and no featured specials. Average ingredients, nothing special at all. Inflated reviews due to portion size and ability to not burn previously frozen items.

Pros: huge portions, tasted average to good. Great prices. I might go back sometime, although I would rather try every other place in AZ first in hopes someone has something special to offer (cough hint fresh juice), but probably wouldn't tell my friends about it. We can make it all at home in less time at a...

GARDEN SKILLET:

This review is only for what I've had. Im pretty sure Hoosier Cafe has other excellent food. I chose the Garden Skillet. My only issue with the plate is that the ratio of the eggs to potatoes is way off. There are tons of potatoes and little egg. Don't get me wrong you can't go wrong with more food. I ordered 3 over easy eggs instead of the two that usually come standard with it, it felt like I was just eating potato the whole time. So if you do get the Garden Skillet I'd recommend either getting more eggs or light potato. When you get the skillet it also comes with green peppers, onions, and a choice of ham, bacon, or sausage for an additional fee of $3. One last thing I would say that the potatoes are very soft and salty. Threw me off bit but it wasnt that bad. I got the bacon and ham. Let's just say that it didn't disappoint. Overall I give the plate a 2.6/5 due to the large amount of potatoes, softness, and saltiness if them. Other than that the plate is not to bad. I don't want to drift you away from this plate or any other food.

BISCUITS AND GRAVY:

The other dish I had was biscuits and gravy. Rating of 4/5. Would for sure get it again.

Definitely would come back to try other things! Thought I would give my honest opinion to help...