Gus Balon’s Restaurant
6027 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ, 85711
Gus Balon’s Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6027 E 22nd St
Tucson, AZ, 85711 - Phone (520) 747-7788
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm
- Mon : 7:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Hammer F.
Good place to eat. Wait staff is great. Food is typical diner fare. Coffee is Maxwell house or some common variety...not that good.
(3)Sta S.
Best toast best bread in town yes I've had the cinnamon roll deelish love Gus Balons
(5)Scott A.
Found this place on Yelp and took my son there while visiting from Phoenix. Holy moly was that an amazing Cinnamon Roll. Gooey on the top, fresh and tasty in the middle and crunchy sweet on the bottom. That's all we had and our day was set in perfection. The articles and awards on the wall declare that this is the best Cinnamon Roll in the country. One award declares this Roll to be better than those Cinnamon rolls in all of Iowa, where apparently they take their rolls very seriously. You get no arguments from me. It's worth driving from Phoenix just to eat at Gus's.
(5)Matt J.
My wife and I had been driving past this joint for a year or so (unfortunately) before trying it. The are known for the ginormous cinammon rolls as well as good 'ol home cooked food. The cinammon rolls are good, but kind of a novelty item, i tried one, and am glad I did, but have no intent to order them often. I go there for the chicken fried chicken. It is fabulous. That and the homemade rye bread. Those two items alone make me go here. I'm actually not sure what else is on the menu, because I never look. The service is fast and friendly. The pies in the window look awesome, but i've yet to try one. If you're in the mood for a chicken fried chicken (or steak, that's what my wife gets, and loves them) try this joint, and don't forget the rye bread.
(4)Greg M.
There are lots of places in town that serve "home cooked "food, but the difference with Gus Balon's is that their food is not only great but the staff are soooo friendly too. Seems to really enhance the experience even more. I go there to eat and wind up leaving with a whole new outlook for the day. Really makes my day a great one. Oh and for those people whining about "price increases", in case you haven't noticed our economy in it's present state has caused a domino effect in everything that is produced, packaged, and shipped in this country including the whole sale prices for food. So consider the big scheme of things.
(5)Matthew M.
Amazing. Super fast and friendly. I wish I could come here everyday. Get the cinnamon roll. You'll thank me later
(5)Kelly R.
Yummy breakfast for a very good price and includes coffee. Was really busy but the staff worked hard to make sure everyone was taken care of. They were very friendly and the food portions were large.
(4)John M.
Cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll. It's criminally good. Total classic diner where they're on you every five seconds about your coffee refill, which I love, especially when the coffee is as awesome as it was. The only thing keeping it from that elusive fifth star was that the roll wasn't hot enough - it would have tasted so much better than it already did.
(4)Laurie W.
This is THE best food at THE best prices. Prepared well and always tasty. We have been coming here for probably 20 years or more!! All the wait staff are so friendly and pleasant.
(5)Andrew S.
I visited from out of town. I had the most amazing breakfast. First I had a cinnamon role. Holy Cow it was delicious. The breakfast burger was a taste of heaven. The buns are homemade...who does that! Awese!!! My hands down favorite were the patatos. Crispy breakfast potatos. Not the sloppy mush served at most places. I know the owner (I have to make this disclosure) and she made me a pecan pie. I just about fell out of my chair. The best piece of pie I've eaten. The crust was perfection. People of Tucson you have a gem!!!!
(5)Ruth W.
have been driving past this place forever never even noticed it. My friend suggested it so we met for coffee & buns. We were hooked. It was crowded but we weren't rushed & the waitress was very friendly. We took 1/2 our cinnamon roll home! We're going to go today to try their lunch menu. P.S. We didn't take cash & did'nt need it they do accept debit & credit!
(5)Mukur H.
The sticky buns are HUGE! They are delicious too, I think the one we ordered lasted about a day and a half through our roadtrip. You need to go here for breakfast, as they have many options and the service is extremely friendly. I think its cash only though.
(4)Carrie B.
We tried this place for lunch one day. As far as diners go, this menu is basically predictable American comfort food. You've got your club sandwiches, chicken fried steaks and egg dishes with home fries option. They have a pie menu that seems to be a favorite. According to our waitress, the double-crust fruit pies are the faves selling out first. There is a cream pie assortment, too. We tried the lemon cream and butterscotch cream (essentially a pudding pie). The crust was flaky & good. The lemon filling was like a lemon jelly like in a donut, not a fluffy meringue like I was expecting. I want to try the peanut butter banana cream pie next time. The staff was really friendly and the service was fast, the place is very clean, too. Take cash or personal checks, no credit cards accepted!!
(3)Brooke R.
The first page of the menu is order-by-numbers, with different combinations of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, potatoes, etc, ranging in price from $4-6. I ordered the two egg, three bacon, American fried potato, two toast for $6.10. The eggs are labeled as "fried" but are no more fried than a regular over-X ordered from IHOP. American fried potatoes are a hybrid of hash browns and a baked potato. There was no flavor in my American fried potatoes. Breads are made on site and as such my whole wheat toast tasted just like grandma's. Dense. It was served smothered in butter and Smucker's individual sized jams are on each table. The second page of the menu are the a la cart breakfast items, as well as a breakfast hamburger. I searched for the famous cinnamon roll but could not find it on the menu. I asked for one regardless, and was told that they may or may not have it. They didn't have it. The last pages of the menu are filled with lunch items (and a kid's menu). It includes a very limited selection of diner favorites, such as pork chops, fried chicken, and triple deckers. The back page has such wonderful creations as sundaes and milkshakes. I ordered a slice of pie and got to choose a flavor from the options on the wall. Pies are made on site. They have traditional as well as cream pies. The cream pies, I was told, are not available for by-the-slice ordering. My rhubarb pie was only average, a shame considering that it's made only a few yards away from where it was served. The crust was fabulous- sweet and crusty, but the filling is where this pie fell short. All in all it was not a bad choice to come here, but I will never again drive all the way from my quaint little one bedroom house by the university to the southeast side just for a couple eggs and a slice of pie.
(3)Alaina M.
Went here for the first time since I've been to Tucson and it was awesome. Quickest service great food and surrounded by the older crowd of Tucson. They definitely know what's up with this place. We were in and out in 20 minutes no joke. I felt like I was getting a fast food restaurant service at how quick it was but the quality of food was way better. We ordered the french toast and the breakfast burger. I'm not a fan of french toast but it was delish. The breakfast burger is definitely what you'd want Mcdonald's breakfast sandwiches to taste like. but that'll never happen. Of course we had to get the cinnamon roll that every keeps raving about and yes it was amazing as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Emily K.
Cinnamon bun lives up to the glory. As for the rest - if you are into a greasy spoon breakfast, you'll love... Definitely worth the visit just for the decor and feel of the place. Quentin Tarantino should scope it out for his next flick.
(3)Leo B.
Good breakfast and some nice comfort food lunches. No credit cards is a pain in the neck.
(4)a c.
The cinnamon roll is really good. I had the french toast and it was the best french toast I've ever had. The coffee could use some improvement. The place has a very friendly local diner feel. The service was great. Prices were reasonable. I'd definitely go back!
(3)Drea K.
The best breakfast you'll ever have. Prices are cheap and the food comes fast. Cash only and sometimes there can be a little bit of a wait but its never too long. You won't find anything fancy on the menu its your basic old fashion American Diner. Side note: dont come here if you're on a diet. do come if you're looking to stuff yourself silly.
(4)Andy S.
There's nothing better sometimes than eggs and toast with lots of butter served by a waitress that calls you 'Hon'. I don't think that you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Watch out when driving by this place, there is always glass in the street from where some octogenarian has slammed on the brakes before turning in and had their land yacht smacked.
(4)Chris C.
Tucson has its fair share of good breakfast joints, but this place ranks among my favorite traditional diners anywhere. They take a back-to-basics approach (i.e No oatmeal creme brulee or the like) - everything is made from scratch and generally very good. As well, the place is spotless and the waitstaff friendly and efficient - not always things you find at the better hole-in-the-walls.
(5)K C.
a must for me when i visit Tucson....what's better then eggs fried in BUTTER....Mmmmmm...ohhh...and their pies....is just amazing.....
(5)Edward W.
I visited for breakfast after reading all the great reviews. I wasn't greeted when I walked in the door so was a little unsure whether to seat myself or wait to be seated. After standing a minute I decided to seat myself. Menus are on the table, I greeted quickly by waitress once seated. Food was good except what they call american breakfast potatoes. I didn't like them at all and didn't see substitutions on the menu (grits, hash browns). I especially liked that the bread is all baked fresh on-site daily. Made for some great toast with jam! Overall a nice experience, but not one that will have me going back for more.
(3)Max G.
We went to Gus Balon's for breakfast on March 30. The eggs and potatoes were average, the pie was great. My wife had the chocolate, banana, peanut butter pie, which she loved. I had the butterscotch, which was average. Good service. Worth the price.
(4)Robin B.
Very yummy and fast. New breakfast favorite.
(5)Erika C.
The food here is alright, typical diner fair. They have a great assortment of pies, which is a huge plus in my eyes. Sugar yayyyyyyy. The service is decent - again, typical diner service. My favorite aspect is definitely the pies, so check it out if you've got a sweet tooth.
(3)Jeremy J.
Very friendly and personal staff. Sticky buns are great. ($2.25). Toast comes with eggs. Homemade buns. Great fries. Reasonably Priced, and opens at 7am.
(5)Mary R.
I had heard about the fabled cinnamon roll at Gus Balon's, so of course I had to investigate. It certainly lives up to the size claim; share with a friend or two, especially if you order a full meal. It's tasty, but it doesn't make the cut for my top ten (in Tucson, The Good Egg does it better.) The icing is unimpressive. The texture is what does it in: ideally, a cinnamon roll should be firm and almost crisp on the outside and a touch doughy in the center curl. Gus Balon's was more dry/soggy. The menu has plenty of options, some with Mexican flair. (Try an omelet with chiles, cheese, etc.) I advise choosing one of these rather than just a standard eggs/meat/toast plate, as those are available anywhere (and usually with better execution). The prices are reasonable, and they have indoor and outdoor seating, which is a perk. Overall, though, I can't say I'd go out of my way to visit; it's quite a leg out in the southeast part of town, and I need something more spectacular to justify the gas-burning.
(3)Dale Y.
Great food, excellent service, all menu items our party had were very good. Cinnamon Rolls are great. Pie menu is unbelievable if you like pie they have it!
(4)Loren A.
Rule number one: Just remember to bring cash. FACT: This restaurant was NAMED as the TOP TEN BEST breakfast places in the USA-- because of the GODDAMN AMAZING cinnamon rolls! That place is chock-FULL of blue haired people but the cinnamon rolls are soooooooooo orgasmic! The fried over-easy eggs and the homefries-- all slathered with so much butter.... I miss this place SO much since I moved to Seattle. I love how this place has been run in the family for three generations too and how the food has not changed a bit since the 1960s. Even my mother remembers the day when this place OPENED up back then.
(5)Kelly L.
Great food and great service. the staff is super friendly. I've only eaten breakfast there. Usually can get a seat pretty easily and it all tastes fresh and amazing. Their pies are incredible - definitely take one home to impress the family! I got their pineapple cream pie which was unbelievable. not too sweet and not too wet/runny like some fruit pies - it was lovely!
(4)Jennifer D.
I would have given the place one more star, but the day we went to eat there, they ran out of the cinnamon buns. The fresh homemade wheat bread was kick @ss! I Had to buy a loaf. The service was quick and the staff was very nice! Good Decaf too!
(3)Rebecca F.
The food is good but the homemade bread is delicious! The service is always prompt and the waitresses are friendly. I always get the #3 and had to send the bacon back to day to crisp it up. It also seemed like the portion size on their yummy potatoes got smaller. I'm a pancake snob and if I was rating on the pancakes alone, I would give them 5 stars! They are large, fluffy and tasty. Their coconut cream pie is good too!
(4)Rod H.
I don't get it. At best this is bland, everyday breakfast food. The bacon was way over done and the cook must not have known how to baste an egg since they came to me over hard. The potatoes were good, but the rest was immanently forgettable. Apparently people love the cinnamon rolls but I'm not much for a sugar rush early in the morning. I tried the biscuit and gravy and again found it to be boring and bland. Watery iced tea kind of topped off the experience. I asked for the tea without lemon which is normally a waste of breath since most servers go into auto serve mode and stick it on the edge of the glass anyway. This time it came with three huge slices floating in the glass. Sigh... There are better bland overdone breakfasts out there.
(2)Peg P.
Stop the presses! Head out to one of the best breakfast places in the Old Pueblo. It feels like a trip back to a better time, sitting here at Gus's. I had the cheese omelette, which was huge. It came with 2 slices of buttered toast, fried American potatoes, and coffee. My partner had the famous cinammon roll, which totally blew both of us away with its taste. She gives it 5 Stars. (She still loves the cinammon rolls at LeCave's the best but says they are two totally different types of rolls.) All this food for around $10.00. The service was fast and friendly. The place was packed with a continual stream of folks coming in for breakfast. We will most certainly return to Gus's. And try some of those pies. Meanwhile, we did buy a loaf of their hearty rye bread and a loaf of wheat bread to take home.
(4)Kyle S.
Middle of the road breakfast lunch place. I can think of several of these in town and seriously this one is not special. If you want better food just keep driving down 22nd to the bread and butter cafe. So After dropping off the rabbit at the VW dealership we go get some breakfast, its a monday morning between 8-9AM menus are on the table open it up and thump I get the feeling that the car dealership isnt going to be the worst value for money of the day. I LOVE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK, BUT, for a place that prides its self on no frills simple good home style food $11 is a bit too much for chicken fried steak. I also love french toast and they make their own bread there. however maybe you shouldn't just run the loaf through the slicer machine for the french toast the 3 slice portion was around $5 for just the toast and my 2 slice french toast 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon was $7 and an a la carte short stack of 2 pancakes was $4. so how were the overpriced breakfast items, The french toast was nice but too thin and had little flavor. The pancakes were good, but not $4 for 2 cakes good. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and the bacon was cheap bargain basement thin cut swill. I WILL NOT GO BACK, Not because It was horrific but It was over priced for what it is. If I left there tip included at $11 then yeah but $16 you are over the mark. It should have 1.5 $ Seriously go to the bread and butter cafe better food better people batter value for money. Also Bobo's on speedway is better.
(2)Liz W.
Fast, simple, home cooked food.
(4)Geordie R.
Cinnamon roll! The review has to start and end here. These sweet treats are famous and it's easy to see why. They are both huge and delicious. I'm not sure why we ordered anything else - splitting a roll between two people should have been enough. The rest of the menu is standard diner fare with the pleasant exception of the home made bread. Service? Absolutely impeccable. The waitstaff are all seasoned pros and most other restaurants could learn a thing or two by watching this team work.
(4)Edward W.
I visited for breakfast after reading all the great reviews. I wasn't greeted when I walked in the door so was a little unsure whether to seat myself or wait to be seated. After standing a minute I decided to seat myself. Menus are on the table, I greeted quickly by waitress once seated. Food was good except what they call american breakfast potatoes. I didn't like them at all and didn't see substitutions on the menu (grits, hash browns). I especially liked that the bread is all baked fresh on-site daily. Made for some great toast with jam! Overall a nice experience, but not one that will have me going back for more.
(3)Brooke R.
The first page of the menu is order-by-numbers, with different combinations of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, potatoes, etc, ranging in price from $4-6. I ordered the two egg, three bacon, American fried potato, two toast for $6.10. The eggs are labeled as "fried" but are no more fried than a regular over-X ordered from IHOP. American fried potatoes are a hybrid of hash browns and a baked potato. There was no flavor in my American fried potatoes. Breads are made on site and as such my whole wheat toast tasted just like grandma's. Dense. It was served smothered in butter and Smucker's individual sized jams are on each table. The second page of the menu are the a la cart breakfast items, as well as a breakfast hamburger. I searched for the famous cinnamon roll but could not find it on the menu. I asked for one regardless, and was told that they may or may not have it. They didn't have it. The last pages of the menu are filled with lunch items (and a kid's menu). It includes a very limited selection of diner favorites, such as pork chops, fried chicken, and triple deckers. The back page has such wonderful creations as sundaes and milkshakes. I ordered a slice of pie and got to choose a flavor from the options on the wall. Pies are made on site. They have traditional as well as cream pies. The cream pies, I was told, are not available for by-the-slice ordering. My rhubarb pie was only average, a shame considering that it's made only a few yards away from where it was served. The crust was fabulous- sweet and crusty, but the filling is where this pie fell short. All in all it was not a bad choice to come here, but I will never again drive all the way from my quaint little one bedroom house by the university to the southeast side just for a couple eggs and a slice of pie.
(3)Alaina M.
Went here for the first time since I've been to Tucson and it was awesome. Quickest service great food and surrounded by the older crowd of Tucson. They definitely know what's up with this place. We were in and out in 20 minutes no joke. I felt like I was getting a fast food restaurant service at how quick it was but the quality of food was way better. We ordered the french toast and the breakfast burger. I'm not a fan of french toast but it was delish. The breakfast burger is definitely what you'd want Mcdonald's breakfast sandwiches to taste like. but that'll never happen. Of course we had to get the cinnamon roll that every keeps raving about and yes it was amazing as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Max G.
We went to Gus Balon's for breakfast on March 30. The eggs and potatoes were average, the pie was great. My wife had the chocolate, banana, peanut butter pie, which she loved. I had the butterscotch, which was average. Good service. Worth the price.
(4)Hammer F.
Good place to eat. Wait staff is great. Food is typical diner fare. Coffee is Maxwell house or some common variety...not that good.
(3)Carrie B.
We tried this place for lunch one day. As far as diners go, this menu is basically predictable American comfort food. You've got your club sandwiches, chicken fried steaks and egg dishes with home fries option. They have a pie menu that seems to be a favorite. According to our waitress, the double-crust fruit pies are the faves selling out first. There is a cream pie assortment, too. We tried the lemon cream and butterscotch cream (essentially a pudding pie). The crust was flaky & good. The lemon filling was like a lemon jelly like in a donut, not a fluffy meringue like I was expecting. I want to try the peanut butter banana cream pie next time. The staff was really friendly and the service was fast, the place is very clean, too. Take cash or personal checks, no credit cards accepted!!
(3)Sta S.
Best toast best bread in town yes I've had the cinnamon roll deelish love Gus Balons
(5)Scott A.
Found this place on Yelp and took my son there while visiting from Phoenix. Holy moly was that an amazing Cinnamon Roll. Gooey on the top, fresh and tasty in the middle and crunchy sweet on the bottom. That's all we had and our day was set in perfection. The articles and awards on the wall declare that this is the best Cinnamon Roll in the country. One award declares this Roll to be better than those Cinnamon rolls in all of Iowa, where apparently they take their rolls very seriously. You get no arguments from me. It's worth driving from Phoenix just to eat at Gus's.
(5)Matt J.
My wife and I had been driving past this joint for a year or so (unfortunately) before trying it. The are known for the ginormous cinammon rolls as well as good 'ol home cooked food. The cinammon rolls are good, but kind of a novelty item, i tried one, and am glad I did, but have no intent to order them often. I go there for the chicken fried chicken. It is fabulous. That and the homemade rye bread. Those two items alone make me go here. I'm actually not sure what else is on the menu, because I never look. The service is fast and friendly. The pies in the window look awesome, but i've yet to try one. If you're in the mood for a chicken fried chicken (or steak, that's what my wife gets, and loves them) try this joint, and don't forget the rye bread.
(4)Greg M.
There are lots of places in town that serve "home cooked "food, but the difference with Gus Balon's is that their food is not only great but the staff are soooo friendly too. Seems to really enhance the experience even more. I go there to eat and wind up leaving with a whole new outlook for the day. Really makes my day a great one. Oh and for those people whining about "price increases", in case you haven't noticed our economy in it's present state has caused a domino effect in everything that is produced, packaged, and shipped in this country including the whole sale prices for food. So consider the big scheme of things.
(5)Matthew M.
Amazing. Super fast and friendly. I wish I could come here everyday. Get the cinnamon roll. You'll thank me later
(5)Kelly R.
Yummy breakfast for a very good price and includes coffee. Was really busy but the staff worked hard to make sure everyone was taken care of. They were very friendly and the food portions were large.
(4)John M.
Cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll. It's criminally good. Total classic diner where they're on you every five seconds about your coffee refill, which I love, especially when the coffee is as awesome as it was. The only thing keeping it from that elusive fifth star was that the roll wasn't hot enough - it would have tasted so much better than it already did.
(4)Robin B.
Very yummy and fast. New breakfast favorite.
(5)Loren A.
Rule number one: Just remember to bring cash. FACT: This restaurant was NAMED as the TOP TEN BEST breakfast places in the USA-- because of the GODDAMN AMAZING cinnamon rolls! That place is chock-FULL of blue haired people but the cinnamon rolls are soooooooooo orgasmic! The fried over-easy eggs and the homefries-- all slathered with so much butter.... I miss this place SO much since I moved to Seattle. I love how this place has been run in the family for three generations too and how the food has not changed a bit since the 1960s. Even my mother remembers the day when this place OPENED up back then.
(5)Laurie W.
This is THE best food at THE best prices. Prepared well and always tasty. We have been coming here for probably 20 years or more!! All the wait staff are so friendly and pleasant.
(5)Andrew S.
I visited from out of town. I had the most amazing breakfast. First I had a cinnamon role. Holy Cow it was delicious. The breakfast burger was a taste of heaven. The buns are homemade...who does that! Awese!!! My hands down favorite were the patatos. Crispy breakfast potatos. Not the sloppy mush served at most places. I know the owner (I have to make this disclosure) and she made me a pecan pie. I just about fell out of my chair. The best piece of pie I've eaten. The crust was perfection. People of Tucson you have a gem!!!!
(5)Ruth W.
have been driving past this place forever never even noticed it. My friend suggested it so we met for coffee & buns. We were hooked. It was crowded but we weren't rushed & the waitress was very friendly. We took 1/2 our cinnamon roll home! We're going to go today to try their lunch menu. P.S. We didn't take cash & did'nt need it they do accept debit & credit!
(5)Mukur H.
The sticky buns are HUGE! They are delicious too, I think the one we ordered lasted about a day and a half through our roadtrip. You need to go here for breakfast, as they have many options and the service is extremely friendly. I think its cash only though.
(4)Erika C.
The food here is alright, typical diner fair. They have a great assortment of pies, which is a huge plus in my eyes. Sugar yayyyyyyy. The service is decent - again, typical diner service. My favorite aspect is definitely the pies, so check it out if you've got a sweet tooth.
(3)Jeremy J.
Very friendly and personal staff. Sticky buns are great. ($2.25). Toast comes with eggs. Homemade buns. Great fries. Reasonably Priced, and opens at 7am.
(5)Mary R.
I had heard about the fabled cinnamon roll at Gus Balon's, so of course I had to investigate. It certainly lives up to the size claim; share with a friend or two, especially if you order a full meal. It's tasty, but it doesn't make the cut for my top ten (in Tucson, The Good Egg does it better.) The icing is unimpressive. The texture is what does it in: ideally, a cinnamon roll should be firm and almost crisp on the outside and a touch doughy in the center curl. Gus Balon's was more dry/soggy. The menu has plenty of options, some with Mexican flair. (Try an omelet with chiles, cheese, etc.) I advise choosing one of these rather than just a standard eggs/meat/toast plate, as those are available anywhere (and usually with better execution). The prices are reasonable, and they have indoor and outdoor seating, which is a perk. Overall, though, I can't say I'd go out of my way to visit; it's quite a leg out in the southeast part of town, and I need something more spectacular to justify the gas-burning.
(3)Dale Y.
Great food, excellent service, all menu items our party had were very good. Cinnamon Rolls are great. Pie menu is unbelievable if you like pie they have it!
(4)Emily K.
Cinnamon bun lives up to the glory. As for the rest - if you are into a greasy spoon breakfast, you'll love... Definitely worth the visit just for the decor and feel of the place. Quentin Tarantino should scope it out for his next flick.
(3)Leo B.
Good breakfast and some nice comfort food lunches. No credit cards is a pain in the neck.
(4)a c.
The cinnamon roll is really good. I had the french toast and it was the best french toast I've ever had. The coffee could use some improvement. The place has a very friendly local diner feel. The service was great. Prices were reasonable. I'd definitely go back!
(3)Drea K.
The best breakfast you'll ever have. Prices are cheap and the food comes fast. Cash only and sometimes there can be a little bit of a wait but its never too long. You won't find anything fancy on the menu its your basic old fashion American Diner. Side note: dont come here if you're on a diet. do come if you're looking to stuff yourself silly.
(4)Andy S.
There's nothing better sometimes than eggs and toast with lots of butter served by a waitress that calls you 'Hon'. I don't think that you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Watch out when driving by this place, there is always glass in the street from where some octogenarian has slammed on the brakes before turning in and had their land yacht smacked.
(4)Chris C.
Tucson has its fair share of good breakfast joints, but this place ranks among my favorite traditional diners anywhere. They take a back-to-basics approach (i.e No oatmeal creme brulee or the like) - everything is made from scratch and generally very good. As well, the place is spotless and the waitstaff friendly and efficient - not always things you find at the better hole-in-the-walls.
(5)K C.
a must for me when i visit Tucson....what's better then eggs fried in BUTTER....Mmmmmm...ohhh...and their pies....is just amazing.....
(5)Frank P.
Great on their feet servers. I walked in alittle unorientated, found a seat and the view of an traditional American breakfast diner came into view. The local crowd of mostly retired folks with visiting smiles, and one gentleman reading his morning paper at the counter, had a most warming feel of dinners I knew as a kid in the late 70's. With worn counters from years of service, and the home made bread; this place is has an outstanding breakfast. Eggs over easy and bacon that was cooked to my perfection. Traditional charm, and food priced to the local economy. A whopping 6.99 ticket for a full on breakfast with three cups of coffee. To drive past here hungry is taking a punch at American tradition. 5 plus stars! Frank Papp
(5)Amy G.
This place makes their own rolls and bread???!! If that is not enough to draw you in I don't know what is. It's just a classic old diner with great food and super great service. The waiters are just so nice and accommodating. The chocolate cream pie was so satisfying and I can't wait to try the other favors. Yum!
(5)Jack D.
I've been coming here for years and years, since I was a kid. I even came here 15 years ago for my senior high school breakfast. The place has aged and so has the moral. The place has a lower than average moral/excitement feeling inside. The food is amazing and the price is right on!
(5)Nelly M.
THE GIANT CINNAMON ROLL WITH ICING IS DELISH . Talk about fresh homemade good prices . Hubby and I are big fans of pop and mom shops . But WOW this place is AMAZING. BREAD IS HOMEMADE CRISPY BIG THICK SLICES AND YUMMY !! Hubby had the corned beef hash plate that came with homemade hash 2 eggs 2 pieces of homemade toast home fries and coffee he practically licked the plate . He knows about hash and its the real deal . I myslef had the willie omelet which came with hardy amount of steak onions mushrooms and cheese it aslo came with 2 pieces of toast and homemade fries plus coffee. We spent $20 that is all best money i spent this week ...coming back again forsure!!!!
(5)Cathy B.
I absolutely loved this place. Real food served by real people, and provided to real customers. I loved the mix of clientele. The country music on the radio. The prompt and caring service. And, of course the food. I was there for breakfast. AND I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE SWEET ROLLS so I ordered a full breakfast + a sweet roll "for dessert." THESE THINGS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD, people. And, better than what I can make at home -- and I make pretty good sweet rolls from scratch. Unlike other reviewers, I actually did *not* like the hash browns. I felt they were inconsistent. But since everyone else raves about them, I'll chalk it up to my particular plate on that particular day. I went. I ate. I bought a coffee mug. What else can I say?
(5)Daysha D.
Too be honest I wanted a big basket of hot wings, a bottle of ranch dressing, sweats and my fingers, but I let my bf take me here anyways. Upon walking in, I got the "old diner" feeling. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not but that could have been the hot wing haze I had over my eyes. We sat down and had the nicest and sweetest waitress. I ordered the chicken strips meal with fries and mixed veggies. I asked for mashed potatoes & gravy for dipping but I didn't really mind the mistake. My bf ordered the half chicken meal that came with dressing, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and a roll. We munched on rolls as we talked and laughed away. The rolls were actually heavenly. I was like "whaaaaaattttttttt" with the widest of eyes. Our meals came and his meal looked absolutely delish. My meal wasn't bad but it could have been better. The chicken tenders could have had more seasoning on them. My fries were good. The mixed veggies were a little bland and the peas looked a little gray to me, but I'm blind so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. The food was piping hot and the company was enjoyable. While eating, we saw one of the employees walk over to the thermostat and he buffed and cleaned the living hell out of it. Which, in turn, made me inspect the restaurant. It was amazingly clean. Like even the windows were free of dust and fingerprints. They even buffed the bar the old school way. I was impressed. We ordered a chocolate and butterscotch crème pie afterwards. I'm not a pie person. I like to have cake.....and eat it too. Get it? Lol it will come to you. Anywho, it was actually pretty good. I even tasted his butterscotch pie and it was better than my chocolate pie. For a nice sized meal, drinks and two nice sized slices of pie the total was around $25. KACHING! Me being a cheapie, this made my day a productive day and I feel like I had accomplished something. We left a big tip for the waitress and I paid on our way out. We left out with full tummies, smiles on our face and the look of the "itis" on our eyes. Go try this place out!
(4)Georgia S.
Went her for my first time today. I love a good generic breakfast. I got a coffee and French toast. The coffee was great the French toast not so much. It was just like eating bread, no cinnamon what so ever, very bland. As for the service, not impressed. I walked, a couple sat outside, then 2 ladies came in after. Well, the 2 ladies were treated and served drinks before anyone said anything to me. Ok, fine I'm not a regular....but still. When I was served my food the waitress said she would get me more coffee, 10 minutes later she finally came back with more. During that time any other waitress was complaining about the couple sitting outside, seriously if you are going to complain about your job, don't do it in front of patrons.
(2)Fernandez S.
Great prices for a huge portion of food. Great down to earth staff. Will definitely try their pies next time I go
(5)Luis P.
I went to breakfast with my family. The place was very busy as it should be because it is so good. We sat outside in the front area of the restaurant. Service was terrible. Flies were in abundance. There was only one clean table when we sat down. There were no people at any of the tables. Its a beautiful day for dining outside. When the cashier asked me how was everything I began by telling her that we had to come inside to request table service , well she walked away and ignored me. I've been going here for over 20 years. I don't recommend eating outside.
(3)Carolyn S.
Great home made buns & dinner rolls. The turkey is roasted in house from scratch, always fresh. My favorite. Nice service, very Friendly.
(4)Geoffrey A.
I love this place! Service is wicked fast, waitresses are friendly, food is quite good. I stick to the Kyle's Omelet add green chilies, no bread(Can't eat it), but it is baked fresh on site. Oh and get the potatoes extra chrispy.
(4)Gwendolyn B.
How can a restaurant serve omelets and not have green pepper? Also, if you're wanting biscuits and gravy, better look elsewhere unless its a Tuesday because that is the ONLY day its served....by the way it isn't sausage gravy...just white. Lastly, the sauage has little to no flavor. That being said if you like cinnamon buns, I hear they are really good and the fresh baked bread is ok as well.
(2)Steve R.
Don't eat here if you like ham steak. Because you will forever judge other ham steak breakfasts by Gus Bslon's. They don't serve some skinny ass piece of ham. They give you the whole slab Sam! Super friendly staff, and CLEAN!
(5)Renee R.
Gus Balon's is legendary! Buy a loaf of bread to go! Great breakfasts! However, for decades their cinnamon rolls were the best you could possibly ever eat.. That is a long time ago.. For about the last 6-7 years, we have gone a few times a year to get our "fix" of gooey cinnamony sweet tender moist yummy cinnamon rolls.. And gagged! Each and every time, they've been dry, stale, tough, and a package of yuckie Walgreens' cruddy cinnamon rolls would rate way, way higher! Suffice to say. We're not going back.. Breaks my heart, as the memory of the old days bring back.. The best of the best!
(4)Tia W.
Sadly, I have been here for 4 years and I never knew this place was there even thought I drive down that street all the time. I recommend adding something eye-catching out front because this place is most-definitely worth the stop. For my first visit (12/18/14), I had the cinnamon roll French toast and it was awesome! The food came out pretty fast and tasted great. Also, this little gem serves PIES! And you can buy whole ones to take home with you. We got the Apple Pie and I will definitely be back for more. I might be bringing one home to have with Christmas dinner! My only complaint would be the waitress. I have never had someone roll their eyes at the customer so many times. She would put a smile on her face and then when we asked for something else, she would huff and roll her eyes then storm off to the kitchen area- so I was disappointed in that. While I understand trying to deal with a lot of people can get frustrating, we probably shouldn't be on the receiving end- just sayin'. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â----- 12/20/14- Update: I decided to go back and to take my kids on a breakfast date. Again, the food is fantastic! It is super fast and is great tasting. We all loved our food. Our server today was awesome and was so patient with the kids changing their minds. Unfortunately, the girl at the register was snotty with me. Very nicely, I asked if they offered a military discount- that's the only crime I committed. I didn't get a greeting or a smile. Instead, her response, right after an exaggerated eye roll was very rude and hateful and she informed me that if I want my discount in the future, I need to ask the server for it- not the cashier. The staff do not wear nametags, so I have no idea who this young girl was. Its very unfortunate because I would love to recommend this place to friends, but I can't send them there for great food and bad attitudes-that's just not right. So, that makes 2 waitresses that I have dealt with who seem to be hating life at the best restaurant in town. I have decided, however, that at some point in the future I will give this place one more try and if I still experience the attitudes, then that's 3 strikes and I'm finding a new favorite.
(4)Anna W.
Breakfast portions are huge. And the French swirl cinnamon roll isn't on the menu. If you haven't tried that there, you have to! I can't stop eyeing their pies. Pies galore there. Reminds me of the Mt Lemmon cafe. Server told us that everything is made from scratch. Very friendly and fast service. Always packed when we come here, it's that good! This last trip, the manager / owner was very insistent on not allowing us to be served part of the whole pie there. We had 3 kids with us too and I even offered to give a very generous tip, but nope, she wouldn't budge because they would rather sell by the slice if you enjoy it there. So 1 less star for not being accomodating. Now to think of it, to have a whole pie and it be the same? If I had to do it again, I would buy slices of varieties. We got sick of so much of the same pie, although it was delicious. It's nice to be able to give away the rest though. :-) Thank goodness the server we would have had was as pleasant as she possibly could be under the circumstances. Thank you for that.
(3)Kathy B.
This is my favorite breakfast spot! My #1 reason for this is the cinnamon rolls. They are made daily at the restaurant and remind me of the ones my Grandmother would make. I have read some reviews that the place is not as good as they expected. I don't know what they had in mind but to me this is the place you go for a good breakfast with homemade goodness! Unfortunately today is the last day they are open before they close for a month (closed July 15). So if you missed them today you have to wait 1 month to have their homemade goodness!
(5)Chris B.
My favorite goto for a Good, fast, homelike breakfast! The Cinnamon Rolls are to die for! Bread, rolls and pies are all made on site and are exquisite! Everything includes free Coffee or Ice Tea! Super fast, even when busy. i can be in and out in 15 minutes.
(5)Melinda D.
A Tucson Landmark. Everything is delicious here, I usually get the French toast (made with homemade bread) and fried potatoes. Pies are awesome (butterscotch!!!) and the servers are fast and friendly. Lunch is great although I usually have breakfast which is served all day. They are closed Sunday which bums me out but I try to deal with the pain. It is also very inexpensive. If you live here you already know (or should know), but if you are visiting from out of town, Gus Balon's is a must-try. It should be noted that back in the early 2000's I had never heard of this place (altho I lived in Tucson). I read about them in Epicurious magazine, they had won the award for best cinnamon roll in the country. That is a serious award by folks who know food. Go there.
(5)Brendan W.
I expected more from all the good reviews. A nice independent place. Breakfast was just bland. My friend had the turkey sandwich and thought it was terribly dry. We had a group of 6 and sat at two tables. They are all set up as 4 person booths. Not a place for larger groups.
(3)Amanda D.
Pies! Pies! Pies! So many pies to chose from at Gus B's! They have the standard fruit pies and just as many cream pies. I had breakfast not so long ago at Gus Balon's and observed the lengthy lists of pies and had an aha moment. My dad loves pies and I am not a baker, so I vowed to give Gus pies a chance for my dad's B-day. His Birthday pie was banana cream, which was a huge hit. My dad is a pie snob and this pie met his expectations of what a good pie should be. I love that you don't have to call ahead to order (good for grabbing a last minute dessert!). Father's Day pie for my dad was the coconut cream. He shared a piece with me (yes, he was willing to part with 1/8 of his pie) and claimed the rest is all his. Scrumptious! There is a chain restaurant that people often frequent for their pies but they are no match for Gus Balon's delicious pies!
(4)Steve Japan 4.
Well well well... that was he best breakfast I've had in probably 3 years. In town for a wedding and about to shoot a traveling food show, so we decided to stop by here after hearing all the rave reviews, and wow does this place exceed the hype. BEST French Toast I've ever had, and I'm a French Toast guy and I've traveled the country several times over and eaten more great French Toast than any man ever should in his lifetime and Gus Balon's takes the cake. 1st place, by a strong mile. The Scrambled Eggs were wonderful, great American Fried Potatoes, Home-made Toast was incredible, and the bacon was perfect (crisp, but not too lean or skinny). Can't wait to come back tomorrow for the Cinnamon Rolls and some pie. This is my new favorite restaurant in the southwest.
(5)Valerie S.
For a local restaurant it's pretty great. They have great comfort food and the bread rolls are to die for. I love this place really casual and homey feel. A very cool diner.
(5)Pepper P.
Best brekky around.... theres not much around. Very sweet staff... I found them to be absolutely delightful. The review about the potatoes was spot-on. They are indeed bland. The reason you should go here is that it is a convenient, (to the base) friendly, greasy spoon. AND they make everything here themselves! My opinion might be higher were I to be around long enough to try out those cinnamon rolls and French toast everyone is raving about.
(4)Corey D.
I blame the fact that I inhaled a cinnamon roll on my dear friend who said, "It won't be as bad if we split it." As if consuming 1200 calories at breakfast instead of 2400 is "not as bad!" It's tasty though, and sometimes that's all that matters! After an hour of pilates I felt like it was ok to meet a good friend I haven't seen in a while for some low down dirty b-fast. Buttered toast, home fries, scrambled eggs, it was TASTY. Even the cinnamon roll, which you can't really deny once you see one zoom past you! The service is incredible, they're on you like a hawk when you run out of coffee or water. My only gripe about the place, there aren't any veggie meats. I'm not a pork eater, so at breakfast I sort of rely on turkey patties or links. No go here. Sad. Know Before You Go: Don't go with my friend Amy if you're on a diet!
(4)Jessica S.
First Visit today and let me tell you it is now one of my favorite American dive/hole in the wall breakfast places. The bacon is cruntchy, the eggs are quite delcious, the bread is homemade and so good. I don't normally like biscuits and gravy, but I got a sdie order thinking I would take a bite and be done with it for a few years. Well I ate it all enjoying every bite, the biscuit was fluffy and crispy on the out side, not overly dense, and the gravy had large pieces of link sausage that made me sad that I got the bacon which was amazing on its own. I am a lover of pancakes... the waitress advised the waffle, and since she had no comment on any of the other questions I asked, she doesn't eat carbs and doesn't like sausage, I decided on the waffle for a change. What a good change it was. I am now blissfully sitting at work in a Carb Coma and look forward to going back as soon as possible to try other items. The food I had was so good I left with two pieces of pie and a cinnamon roll to munch on for the rest of the day. The rare down sides I saw is that the coffee is very watery, and my waitress wasn't quick on the refills even though I clearly stated to keep it full all the time. The creamer for the coffee is low fat milk, not half and half, which I prefer. I love coffee. It took 5 minutes to check out, waiting in line at the counter. The waitress was quick with the order and delivery of the food, but lost all interest in me after teh check was delivered, and I ordered $10 of to go food, which I had to flag her down to order. I am happy to go again... Hopefully they will open early enough in two days on my wy to the airport...which is totally out of the way.
(5)Alicia D.
Gus's is great! Homemade ours are to die for! Great breakfast and lunch menu. Extremely affordable. Each open day there is always a classic blue plate special as well. The homemade breads are delish and also available for purchase whole loaves. As are the PIES! Have we discussed these pies?! Yum don't miss out!
(5)Carolina L.
I really am looking for "wet fries" or crunchy hot fries smothered in gravy. Do you have those? I'm dying to find them! I would be so happy if you could post something on the menu or let me know.
(5)Nancy R.
My Dad lives in Tuscon and every time we visit him we go here for breakfast. I love the way they know his name and remember my step mom's name. And the food is really good. This is home cooking style food with homey feel to it. Love it.
(5)Glenn M.
Yelpers let me down on this one - average food at a decent price. The pie was average though I expected diner pie to be off the charts...maybe I needed to order something else...but did not like it enough to go back for a second chance.
(3)Lynn J.
A real hole in the wall with good stick to your ribs cooking. I think they cook everything in butter. May not be the healthiest but you won't go wrong here. Try a piece of their butterscotch pie if you have room, or better yet, take home a whole pie.
(4)Melinda C.
What can I say? We eat here a lot now. Almost any time Mom and I go out, we get lunch here. Well, really often anyway. And the food is so good here, we get lots of different things. Eggs, french toast, bacon or BLTs or cinnamon rolls or pie or or or... I think the only thing I don't like is the applesauce and that's just a side and I just switch it out for the pickled beets. The service is always great. Ask about the new graphic being painted on the back wall. It's being done by one of the waitresses and she's doing a fantastic job!
(4)Melinda C.
What can I say? We eat here a lot now. Almost any time Mom and I go out, we get lunch here. Well, really often anyway. And the food is so good here, we get lots of different things. Eggs, french toast, bacon or BLTs or cinnamon rolls or pie or or or... I think the only thing I don't like is the applesauce and that's just a side and I just switch it out for the pickled beets. The service is always great. Ask about the new graphic being painted on the back wall. It's being done by one of the waitresses and she's doing a fantastic job!
(4)Jack D.
I've been coming here for years and years, since I was a kid. I even came here 15 years ago for my senior high school breakfast. The place has aged and so has the moral. The place has a lower than average moral/excitement feeling inside. The food is amazing and the price is right on!
(5)Frank P.
Great on their feet servers. I walked in alittle unorientated, found a seat and the view of an traditional American breakfast diner came into view. The local crowd of mostly retired folks with visiting smiles, and one gentleman reading his morning paper at the counter, had a most warming feel of dinners I knew as a kid in the late 70's. With worn counters from years of service, and the home made bread; this place is has an outstanding breakfast. Eggs over easy and bacon that was cooked to my perfection. Traditional charm, and food priced to the local economy. A whopping 6.99 ticket for a full on breakfast with three cups of coffee. To drive past here hungry is taking a punch at American tradition. 5 plus stars! Frank Papp
(5)Amy G.
This place makes their own rolls and bread???!! If that is not enough to draw you in I don't know what is. It's just a classic old diner with great food and super great service. The waiters are just so nice and accommodating. The chocolate cream pie was so satisfying and I can't wait to try the other favors. Yum!
(5)Daysha D.
Too be honest I wanted a big basket of hot wings, a bottle of ranch dressing, sweats and my fingers, but I let my bf take me here anyways. Upon walking in, I got the "old diner" feeling. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not but that could have been the hot wing haze I had over my eyes. We sat down and had the nicest and sweetest waitress. I ordered the chicken strips meal with fries and mixed veggies. I asked for mashed potatoes & gravy for dipping but I didn't really mind the mistake. My bf ordered the half chicken meal that came with dressing, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and a roll. We munched on rolls as we talked and laughed away. The rolls were actually heavenly. I was like "whaaaaaattttttttt" with the widest of eyes. Our meals came and his meal looked absolutely delish. My meal wasn't bad but it could have been better. The chicken tenders could have had more seasoning on them. My fries were good. The mixed veggies were a little bland and the peas looked a little gray to me, but I'm blind so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. The food was piping hot and the company was enjoyable. While eating, we saw one of the employees walk over to the thermostat and he buffed and cleaned the living hell out of it. Which, in turn, made me inspect the restaurant. It was amazingly clean. Like even the windows were free of dust and fingerprints. They even buffed the bar the old school way. I was impressed. We ordered a chocolate and butterscotch crème pie afterwards. I'm not a pie person. I like to have cake.....and eat it too. Get it? Lol it will come to you. Anywho, it was actually pretty good. I even tasted his butterscotch pie and it was better than my chocolate pie. For a nice sized meal, drinks and two nice sized slices of pie the total was around $25. KACHING! Me being a cheapie, this made my day a productive day and I feel like I had accomplished something. We left a big tip for the waitress and I paid on our way out. We left out with full tummies, smiles on our face and the look of the "itis" on our eyes. Go try this place out!
(4)Georgia S.
Went her for my first time today. I love a good generic breakfast. I got a coffee and French toast. The coffee was great the French toast not so much. It was just like eating bread, no cinnamon what so ever, very bland. As for the service, not impressed. I walked, a couple sat outside, then 2 ladies came in after. Well, the 2 ladies were treated and served drinks before anyone said anything to me. Ok, fine I'm not a regular....but still. When I was served my food the waitress said she would get me more coffee, 10 minutes later she finally came back with more. During that time any other waitress was complaining about the couple sitting outside, seriously if you are going to complain about your job, don't do it in front of patrons.
(2)Fernandez S.
Great prices for a huge portion of food. Great down to earth staff. Will definitely try their pies next time I go
(5)Nelly M.
THE GIANT CINNAMON ROLL WITH ICING IS DELISH . Talk about fresh homemade good prices . Hubby and I are big fans of pop and mom shops . But WOW this place is AMAZING. BREAD IS HOMEMADE CRISPY BIG THICK SLICES AND YUMMY !! Hubby had the corned beef hash plate that came with homemade hash 2 eggs 2 pieces of homemade toast home fries and coffee he practically licked the plate . He knows about hash and its the real deal . I myslef had the willie omelet which came with hardy amount of steak onions mushrooms and cheese it aslo came with 2 pieces of toast and homemade fries plus coffee. We spent $20 that is all best money i spent this week ...coming back again forsure!!!!
(5)Cathy B.
I absolutely loved this place. Real food served by real people, and provided to real customers. I loved the mix of clientele. The country music on the radio. The prompt and caring service. And, of course the food. I was there for breakfast. AND I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE SWEET ROLLS so I ordered a full breakfast + a sweet roll "for dessert." THESE THINGS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD, people. And, better than what I can make at home -- and I make pretty good sweet rolls from scratch. Unlike other reviewers, I actually did *not* like the hash browns. I felt they were inconsistent. But since everyone else raves about them, I'll chalk it up to my particular plate on that particular day. I went. I ate. I bought a coffee mug. What else can I say?
(5)Luis P.
I went to breakfast with my family. The place was very busy as it should be because it is so good. We sat outside in the front area of the restaurant. Service was terrible. Flies were in abundance. There was only one clean table when we sat down. There were no people at any of the tables. Its a beautiful day for dining outside. When the cashier asked me how was everything I began by telling her that we had to come inside to request table service , well she walked away and ignored me. I've been going here for over 20 years. I don't recommend eating outside.
(3)Carolyn S.
Great home made buns & dinner rolls. The turkey is roasted in house from scratch, always fresh. My favorite. Nice service, very Friendly.
(4)Geoffrey A.
I love this place! Service is wicked fast, waitresses are friendly, food is quite good. I stick to the Kyle's Omelet add green chilies, no bread(Can't eat it), but it is baked fresh on site. Oh and get the potatoes extra chrispy.
(4)Jessica S.
First Visit today and let me tell you it is now one of my favorite American dive/hole in the wall breakfast places. The bacon is cruntchy, the eggs are quite delcious, the bread is homemade and so good. I don't normally like biscuits and gravy, but I got a sdie order thinking I would take a bite and be done with it for a few years. Well I ate it all enjoying every bite, the biscuit was fluffy and crispy on the out side, not overly dense, and the gravy had large pieces of link sausage that made me sad that I got the bacon which was amazing on its own. I am a lover of pancakes... the waitress advised the waffle, and since she had no comment on any of the other questions I asked, she doesn't eat carbs and doesn't like sausage, I decided on the waffle for a change. What a good change it was. I am now blissfully sitting at work in a Carb Coma and look forward to going back as soon as possible to try other items. The food I had was so good I left with two pieces of pie and a cinnamon roll to munch on for the rest of the day. The rare down sides I saw is that the coffee is very watery, and my waitress wasn't quick on the refills even though I clearly stated to keep it full all the time. The creamer for the coffee is low fat milk, not half and half, which I prefer. I love coffee. It took 5 minutes to check out, waiting in line at the counter. The waitress was quick with the order and delivery of the food, but lost all interest in me after teh check was delivered, and I ordered $10 of to go food, which I had to flag her down to order. I am happy to go again... Hopefully they will open early enough in two days on my wy to the airport...which is totally out of the way.
(5)Alicia D.
Gus's is great! Homemade ours are to die for! Great breakfast and lunch menu. Extremely affordable. Each open day there is always a classic blue plate special as well. The homemade breads are delish and also available for purchase whole loaves. As are the PIES! Have we discussed these pies?! Yum don't miss out!
(5)Carolina L.
I really am looking for "wet fries" or crunchy hot fries smothered in gravy. Do you have those? I'm dying to find them! I would be so happy if you could post something on the menu or let me know.
(5)Nancy R.
My Dad lives in Tuscon and every time we visit him we go here for breakfast. I love the way they know his name and remember my step mom's name. And the food is really good. This is home cooking style food with homey feel to it. Love it.
(5)Glenn M.
Yelpers let me down on this one - average food at a decent price. The pie was average though I expected diner pie to be off the charts...maybe I needed to order something else...but did not like it enough to go back for a second chance.
(3)Kelly L.
Great food and great service. the staff is super friendly. I've only eaten breakfast there. Usually can get a seat pretty easily and it all tastes fresh and amazing. Their pies are incredible - definitely take one home to impress the family! I got their pineapple cream pie which was unbelievable. not too sweet and not too wet/runny like some fruit pies - it was lovely!
(4)Jennifer D.
I would have given the place one more star, but the day we went to eat there, they ran out of the cinnamon buns. The fresh homemade wheat bread was kick @ss! I Had to buy a loaf. The service was quick and the staff was very nice! Good Decaf too!
(3)Rebecca F.
The food is good but the homemade bread is delicious! The service is always prompt and the waitresses are friendly. I always get the #3 and had to send the bacon back to day to crisp it up. It also seemed like the portion size on their yummy potatoes got smaller. I'm a pancake snob and if I was rating on the pancakes alone, I would give them 5 stars! They are large, fluffy and tasty. Their coconut cream pie is good too!
(4)Rod H.
I don't get it. At best this is bland, everyday breakfast food. The bacon was way over done and the cook must not have known how to baste an egg since they came to me over hard. The potatoes were good, but the rest was immanently forgettable. Apparently people love the cinnamon rolls but I'm not much for a sugar rush early in the morning. I tried the biscuit and gravy and again found it to be boring and bland. Watery iced tea kind of topped off the experience. I asked for the tea without lemon which is normally a waste of breath since most servers go into auto serve mode and stick it on the edge of the glass anyway. This time it came with three huge slices floating in the glass. Sigh... There are better bland overdone breakfasts out there.
(2)Peg P.
Stop the presses! Head out to one of the best breakfast places in the Old Pueblo. It feels like a trip back to a better time, sitting here at Gus's. I had the cheese omelette, which was huge. It came with 2 slices of buttered toast, fried American potatoes, and coffee. My partner had the famous cinammon roll, which totally blew both of us away with its taste. She gives it 5 Stars. (She still loves the cinammon rolls at LeCave's the best but says they are two totally different types of rolls.) All this food for around $10.00. The service was fast and friendly. The place was packed with a continual stream of folks coming in for breakfast. We will most certainly return to Gus's. And try some of those pies. Meanwhile, we did buy a loaf of their hearty rye bread and a loaf of wheat bread to take home.
(4)Lynn J.
A real hole in the wall with good stick to your ribs cooking. I think they cook everything in butter. May not be the healthiest but you won't go wrong here. Try a piece of their butterscotch pie if you have room, or better yet, take home a whole pie.
(4)Tia W.
Sadly, I have been here for 4 years and I never knew this place was there even thought I drive down that street all the time. I recommend adding something eye-catching out front because this place is most-definitely worth the stop. For my first visit (12/18/14), I had the cinnamon roll French toast and it was awesome! The food came out pretty fast and tasted great. Also, this little gem serves PIES! And you can buy whole ones to take home with you. We got the Apple Pie and I will definitely be back for more. I might be bringing one home to have with Christmas dinner! My only complaint would be the waitress. I have never had someone roll their eyes at the customer so many times. She would put a smile on her face and then when we asked for something else, she would huff and roll her eyes then storm off to the kitchen area- so I was disappointed in that. While I understand trying to deal with a lot of people can get frustrating, we probably shouldn't be on the receiving end- just sayin'. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â----- 12/20/14- Update: I decided to go back and to take my kids on a breakfast date. Again, the food is fantastic! It is super fast and is great tasting. We all loved our food. Our server today was awesome and was so patient with the kids changing their minds. Unfortunately, the girl at the register was snotty with me. Very nicely, I asked if they offered a military discount- that's the only crime I committed. I didn't get a greeting or a smile. Instead, her response, right after an exaggerated eye roll was very rude and hateful and she informed me that if I want my discount in the future, I need to ask the server for it- not the cashier. The staff do not wear nametags, so I have no idea who this young girl was. Its very unfortunate because I would love to recommend this place to friends, but I can't send them there for great food and bad attitudes-that's just not right. So, that makes 2 waitresses that I have dealt with who seem to be hating life at the best restaurant in town. I have decided, however, that at some point in the future I will give this place one more try and if I still experience the attitudes, then that's 3 strikes and I'm finding a new favorite.
(4)Anna W.
Breakfast portions are huge. And the French swirl cinnamon roll isn't on the menu. If you haven't tried that there, you have to! I can't stop eyeing their pies. Pies galore there. Reminds me of the Mt Lemmon cafe. Server told us that everything is made from scratch. Very friendly and fast service. Always packed when we come here, it's that good! This last trip, the manager / owner was very insistent on not allowing us to be served part of the whole pie there. We had 3 kids with us too and I even offered to give a very generous tip, but nope, she wouldn't budge because they would rather sell by the slice if you enjoy it there. So 1 less star for not being accomodating. Now to think of it, to have a whole pie and it be the same? If I had to do it again, I would buy slices of varieties. We got sick of so much of the same pie, although it was delicious. It's nice to be able to give away the rest though. :-) Thank goodness the server we would have had was as pleasant as she possibly could be under the circumstances. Thank you for that.
(3)Gwendolyn B.
How can a restaurant serve omelets and not have green pepper? Also, if you're wanting biscuits and gravy, better look elsewhere unless its a Tuesday because that is the ONLY day its served....by the way it isn't sausage gravy...just white. Lastly, the sauage has little to no flavor. That being said if you like cinnamon buns, I hear they are really good and the fresh baked bread is ok as well.
(2)Steve R.
Don't eat here if you like ham steak. Because you will forever judge other ham steak breakfasts by Gus Bslon's. They don't serve some skinny ass piece of ham. They give you the whole slab Sam! Super friendly staff, and CLEAN!
(5)Renee R.
Gus Balon's is legendary! Buy a loaf of bread to go! Great breakfasts! However, for decades their cinnamon rolls were the best you could possibly ever eat.. That is a long time ago.. For about the last 6-7 years, we have gone a few times a year to get our "fix" of gooey cinnamony sweet tender moist yummy cinnamon rolls.. And gagged! Each and every time, they've been dry, stale, tough, and a package of yuckie Walgreens' cruddy cinnamon rolls would rate way, way higher! Suffice to say. We're not going back.. Breaks my heart, as the memory of the old days bring back.. The best of the best!
(4)Kathy B.
This is my favorite breakfast spot! My #1 reason for this is the cinnamon rolls. They are made daily at the restaurant and remind me of the ones my Grandmother would make. I have read some reviews that the place is not as good as they expected. I don't know what they had in mind but to me this is the place you go for a good breakfast with homemade goodness! Unfortunately today is the last day they are open before they close for a month (closed July 15). So if you missed them today you have to wait 1 month to have their homemade goodness!
(5)Chris B.
My favorite goto for a Good, fast, homelike breakfast! The Cinnamon Rolls are to die for! Bread, rolls and pies are all made on site and are exquisite! Everything includes free Coffee or Ice Tea! Super fast, even when busy. i can be in and out in 15 minutes.
(5)Melinda D.
A Tucson Landmark. Everything is delicious here, I usually get the French toast (made with homemade bread) and fried potatoes. Pies are awesome (butterscotch!!!) and the servers are fast and friendly. Lunch is great although I usually have breakfast which is served all day. They are closed Sunday which bums me out but I try to deal with the pain. It is also very inexpensive. If you live here you already know (or should know), but if you are visiting from out of town, Gus Balon's is a must-try. It should be noted that back in the early 2000's I had never heard of this place (altho I lived in Tucson). I read about them in Epicurious magazine, they had won the award for best cinnamon roll in the country. That is a serious award by folks who know food. Go there.
(5)Brendan W.
I expected more from all the good reviews. A nice independent place. Breakfast was just bland. My friend had the turkey sandwich and thought it was terribly dry. We had a group of 6 and sat at two tables. They are all set up as 4 person booths. Not a place for larger groups.
(3)Amanda D.
Pies! Pies! Pies! So many pies to chose from at Gus B's! They have the standard fruit pies and just as many cream pies. I had breakfast not so long ago at Gus Balon's and observed the lengthy lists of pies and had an aha moment. My dad loves pies and I am not a baker, so I vowed to give Gus pies a chance for my dad's B-day. His Birthday pie was banana cream, which was a huge hit. My dad is a pie snob and this pie met his expectations of what a good pie should be. I love that you don't have to call ahead to order (good for grabbing a last minute dessert!). Father's Day pie for my dad was the coconut cream. He shared a piece with me (yes, he was willing to part with 1/8 of his pie) and claimed the rest is all his. Scrumptious! There is a chain restaurant that people often frequent for their pies but they are no match for Gus Balon's delicious pies!
(4)Steve Japan 4.
Well well well... that was he best breakfast I've had in probably 3 years. In town for a wedding and about to shoot a traveling food show, so we decided to stop by here after hearing all the rave reviews, and wow does this place exceed the hype. BEST French Toast I've ever had, and I'm a French Toast guy and I've traveled the country several times over and eaten more great French Toast than any man ever should in his lifetime and Gus Balon's takes the cake. 1st place, by a strong mile. The Scrambled Eggs were wonderful, great American Fried Potatoes, Home-made Toast was incredible, and the bacon was perfect (crisp, but not too lean or skinny). Can't wait to come back tomorrow for the Cinnamon Rolls and some pie. This is my new favorite restaurant in the southwest.
(5)Valerie S.
For a local restaurant it's pretty great. They have great comfort food and the bread rolls are to die for. I love this place really casual and homey feel. A very cool diner.
(5)Pepper P.
Best brekky around.... theres not much around. Very sweet staff... I found them to be absolutely delightful. The review about the potatoes was spot-on. They are indeed bland. The reason you should go here is that it is a convenient, (to the base) friendly, greasy spoon. AND they make everything here themselves! My opinion might be higher were I to be around long enough to try out those cinnamon rolls and French toast everyone is raving about.
(4)Corey D.
I blame the fact that I inhaled a cinnamon roll on my dear friend who said, "It won't be as bad if we split it." As if consuming 1200 calories at breakfast instead of 2400 is "not as bad!" It's tasty though, and sometimes that's all that matters! After an hour of pilates I felt like it was ok to meet a good friend I haven't seen in a while for some low down dirty b-fast. Buttered toast, home fries, scrambled eggs, it was TASTY. Even the cinnamon roll, which you can't really deny once you see one zoom past you! The service is incredible, they're on you like a hawk when you run out of coffee or water. My only gripe about the place, there aren't any veggie meats. I'm not a pork eater, so at breakfast I sort of rely on turkey patties or links. No go here. Sad. Know Before You Go: Don't go with my friend Amy if you're on a diet!
(4)Kyle S.
Middle of the road breakfast lunch place. I can think of several of these in town and seriously this one is not special. If you want better food just keep driving down 22nd to the bread and butter cafe. So After dropping off the rabbit at the VW dealership we go get some breakfast, its a monday morning between 8-9AM menus are on the table open it up and thump I get the feeling that the car dealership isnt going to be the worst value for money of the day. I LOVE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK, BUT, for a place that prides its self on no frills simple good home style food $11 is a bit too much for chicken fried steak. I also love french toast and they make their own bread there. however maybe you shouldn't just run the loaf through the slicer machine for the french toast the 3 slice portion was around $5 for just the toast and my 2 slice french toast 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon was $7 and an a la carte short stack of 2 pancakes was $4. so how were the overpriced breakfast items, The french toast was nice but too thin and had little flavor. The pancakes were good, but not $4 for 2 cakes good. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and the bacon was cheap bargain basement thin cut swill. I WILL NOT GO BACK, Not because It was horrific but It was over priced for what it is. If I left there tip included at $11 then yeah but $16 you are over the mark. It should have 1.5 $ Seriously go to the bread and butter cafe better food better people batter value for money. Also Bobo's on speedway is better.
(2)Liz W.
Fast, simple, home cooked food.
(4)Geordie R.
Cinnamon roll! The review has to start and end here. These sweet treats are famous and it's easy to see why. They are both huge and delicious. I'm not sure why we ordered anything else - splitting a roll between two people should have been enough. The rest of the menu is standard diner fare with the pleasant exception of the home made bread. Service? Absolutely impeccable. The waitstaff are all seasoned pros and most other restaurants could learn a thing or two by watching this team work.
(4)Edward W.
I visited for breakfast after reading all the great reviews. I wasn't greeted when I walked in the door so was a little unsure whether to seat myself or wait to be seated. After standing a minute I decided to seat myself. Menus are on the table, I greeted quickly by waitress once seated. Food was good except what they call american breakfast potatoes. I didn't like them at all and didn't see substitutions on the menu (grits, hash browns). I especially liked that the bread is all baked fresh on-site daily. Made for some great toast with jam! Overall a nice experience, but not one that will have me going back for more.
(3)Brooke R.
The first page of the menu is order-by-numbers, with different combinations of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, potatoes, etc, ranging in price from $4-6. I ordered the two egg, three bacon, American fried potato, two toast for $6.10. The eggs are labeled as "fried" but are no more fried than a regular over-X ordered from IHOP. American fried potatoes are a hybrid of hash browns and a baked potato. There was no flavor in my American fried potatoes. Breads are made on site and as such my whole wheat toast tasted just like grandma's. Dense. It was served smothered in butter and Smucker's individual sized jams are on each table. The second page of the menu are the a la cart breakfast items, as well as a breakfast hamburger. I searched for the famous cinnamon roll but could not find it on the menu. I asked for one regardless, and was told that they may or may not have it. They didn't have it. The last pages of the menu are filled with lunch items (and a kid's menu). It includes a very limited selection of diner favorites, such as pork chops, fried chicken, and triple deckers. The back page has such wonderful creations as sundaes and milkshakes. I ordered a slice of pie and got to choose a flavor from the options on the wall. Pies are made on site. They have traditional as well as cream pies. The cream pies, I was told, are not available for by-the-slice ordering. My rhubarb pie was only average, a shame considering that it's made only a few yards away from where it was served. The crust was fabulous- sweet and crusty, but the filling is where this pie fell short. All in all it was not a bad choice to come here, but I will never again drive all the way from my quaint little one bedroom house by the university to the southeast side just for a couple eggs and a slice of pie.
(3)Alaina M.
Went here for the first time since I've been to Tucson and it was awesome. Quickest service great food and surrounded by the older crowd of Tucson. They definitely know what's up with this place. We were in and out in 20 minutes no joke. I felt like I was getting a fast food restaurant service at how quick it was but the quality of food was way better. We ordered the french toast and the breakfast burger. I'm not a fan of french toast but it was delish. The breakfast burger is definitely what you'd want Mcdonald's breakfast sandwiches to taste like. but that'll never happen. Of course we had to get the cinnamon roll that every keeps raving about and yes it was amazing as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Max G.
We went to Gus Balon's for breakfast on March 30. The eggs and potatoes were average, the pie was great. My wife had the chocolate, banana, peanut butter pie, which she loved. I had the butterscotch, which was average. Good service. Worth the price.
(4)Hammer F.
Good place to eat. Wait staff is great. Food is typical diner fare. Coffee is Maxwell house or some common variety...not that good.
(3)Carrie B.
We tried this place for lunch one day. As far as diners go, this menu is basically predictable American comfort food. You've got your club sandwiches, chicken fried steaks and egg dishes with home fries option. They have a pie menu that seems to be a favorite. According to our waitress, the double-crust fruit pies are the faves selling out first. There is a cream pie assortment, too. We tried the lemon cream and butterscotch cream (essentially a pudding pie). The crust was flaky & good. The lemon filling was like a lemon jelly like in a donut, not a fluffy meringue like I was expecting. I want to try the peanut butter banana cream pie next time. The staff was really friendly and the service was fast, the place is very clean, too. Take cash or personal checks, no credit cards accepted!!
(3)Sta S.
Best toast best bread in town yes I've had the cinnamon roll deelish love Gus Balons
(5)Scott A.
Found this place on Yelp and took my son there while visiting from Phoenix. Holy moly was that an amazing Cinnamon Roll. Gooey on the top, fresh and tasty in the middle and crunchy sweet on the bottom. That's all we had and our day was set in perfection. The articles and awards on the wall declare that this is the best Cinnamon Roll in the country. One award declares this Roll to be better than those Cinnamon rolls in all of Iowa, where apparently they take their rolls very seriously. You get no arguments from me. It's worth driving from Phoenix just to eat at Gus's.
(5)Matt J.
My wife and I had been driving past this joint for a year or so (unfortunately) before trying it. The are known for the ginormous cinammon rolls as well as good 'ol home cooked food. The cinammon rolls are good, but kind of a novelty item, i tried one, and am glad I did, but have no intent to order them often. I go there for the chicken fried chicken. It is fabulous. That and the homemade rye bread. Those two items alone make me go here. I'm actually not sure what else is on the menu, because I never look. The service is fast and friendly. The pies in the window look awesome, but i've yet to try one. If you're in the mood for a chicken fried chicken (or steak, that's what my wife gets, and loves them) try this joint, and don't forget the rye bread.
(4)Greg M.
There are lots of places in town that serve "home cooked "food, but the difference with Gus Balon's is that their food is not only great but the staff are soooo friendly too. Seems to really enhance the experience even more. I go there to eat and wind up leaving with a whole new outlook for the day. Really makes my day a great one. Oh and for those people whining about "price increases", in case you haven't noticed our economy in it's present state has caused a domino effect in everything that is produced, packaged, and shipped in this country including the whole sale prices for food. So consider the big scheme of things.
(5)Matthew M.
Amazing. Super fast and friendly. I wish I could come here everyday. Get the cinnamon roll. You'll thank me later
(5)John M.
Cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll, cinnamon roll. It's criminally good. Total classic diner where they're on you every five seconds about your coffee refill, which I love, especially when the coffee is as awesome as it was. The only thing keeping it from that elusive fifth star was that the roll wasn't hot enough - it would have tasted so much better than it already did.
(4)Robin B.
Very yummy and fast. New breakfast favorite.
(5)Loren A.
Rule number one: Just remember to bring cash. FACT: This restaurant was NAMED as the TOP TEN BEST breakfast places in the USA-- because of the GODDAMN AMAZING cinnamon rolls! That place is chock-FULL of blue haired people but the cinnamon rolls are soooooooooo orgasmic! The fried over-easy eggs and the homefries-- all slathered with so much butter.... I miss this place SO much since I moved to Seattle. I love how this place has been run in the family for three generations too and how the food has not changed a bit since the 1960s. Even my mother remembers the day when this place OPENED up back then.
(5)Laurie W.
This is THE best food at THE best prices. Prepared well and always tasty. We have been coming here for probably 20 years or more!! All the wait staff are so friendly and pleasant.
(5)Andrew S.
I visited from out of town. I had the most amazing breakfast. First I had a cinnamon role. Holy Cow it was delicious. The breakfast burger was a taste of heaven. The buns are homemade...who does that! Awese!!! My hands down favorite were the patatos. Crispy breakfast potatos. Not the sloppy mush served at most places. I know the owner (I have to make this disclosure) and she made me a pecan pie. I just about fell out of my chair. The best piece of pie I've eaten. The crust was perfection. People of Tucson you have a gem!!!!
(5)Ruth W.
have been driving past this place forever never even noticed it. My friend suggested it so we met for coffee & buns. We were hooked. It was crowded but we weren't rushed & the waitress was very friendly. We took 1/2 our cinnamon roll home! We're going to go today to try their lunch menu. P.S. We didn't take cash & did'nt need it they do accept debit & credit!
(5)Mukur H.
The sticky buns are HUGE! They are delicious too, I think the one we ordered lasted about a day and a half through our roadtrip. You need to go here for breakfast, as they have many options and the service is extremely friendly. I think its cash only though.
(4)Erika C.
The food here is alright, typical diner fair. They have a great assortment of pies, which is a huge plus in my eyes. Sugar yayyyyyyy. The service is decent - again, typical diner service. My favorite aspect is definitely the pies, so check it out if you've got a sweet tooth.
(3)Jeremy J.
Very friendly and personal staff. Sticky buns are great. ($2.25). Toast comes with eggs. Homemade buns. Great fries. Reasonably Priced, and opens at 7am.
(5)Chris C.
Tucson has its fair share of good breakfast joints, but this place ranks among my favorite traditional diners anywhere. They take a back-to-basics approach (i.e No oatmeal creme brulee or the like) - everything is made from scratch and generally very good. As well, the place is spotless and the waitstaff friendly and efficient - not always things you find at the better hole-in-the-walls.
(5)K C.
a must for me when i visit Tucson....what's better then eggs fried in BUTTER....Mmmmmm...ohhh...and their pies....is just amazing.....
(5)Jack D.
I've been coming here for years and years, since I was a kid. I even came here 15 years ago for my senior high school breakfast. The place has aged and so has the moral. The place has a lower than average moral/excitement feeling inside. The food is amazing and the price is right on!
(5)Daysha D.
Too be honest I wanted a big basket of hot wings, a bottle of ranch dressing, sweats and my fingers, but I let my bf take me here anyways. Upon walking in, I got the "old diner" feeling. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not but that could have been the hot wing haze I had over my eyes. We sat down and had the nicest and sweetest waitress. I ordered the chicken strips meal with fries and mixed veggies. I asked for mashed potatoes & gravy for dipping but I didn't really mind the mistake. My bf ordered the half chicken meal that came with dressing, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and a roll. We munched on rolls as we talked and laughed away. The rolls were actually heavenly. I was like "whaaaaaattttttttt" with the widest of eyes. Our meals came and his meal looked absolutely delish. My meal wasn't bad but it could have been better. The chicken tenders could have had more seasoning on them. My fries were good. The mixed veggies were a little bland and the peas looked a little gray to me, but I'm blind so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. The food was piping hot and the company was enjoyable. While eating, we saw one of the employees walk over to the thermostat and he buffed and cleaned the living hell out of it. Which, in turn, made me inspect the restaurant. It was amazingly clean. Like even the windows were free of dust and fingerprints. They even buffed the bar the old school way. I was impressed. We ordered a chocolate and butterscotch crème pie afterwards. I'm not a pie person. I like to have cake.....and eat it too. Get it? Lol it will come to you. Anywho, it was actually pretty good. I even tasted his butterscotch pie and it was better than my chocolate pie. For a nice sized meal, drinks and two nice sized slices of pie the total was around $25. KACHING! Me being a cheapie, this made my day a productive day and I feel like I had accomplished something. We left a big tip for the waitress and I paid on our way out. We left out with full tummies, smiles on our face and the look of the "itis" on our eyes. Go try this place out!
(4)Georgia S.
Went her for my first time today. I love a good generic breakfast. I got a coffee and French toast. The coffee was great the French toast not so much. It was just like eating bread, no cinnamon what so ever, very bland. As for the service, not impressed. I walked, a couple sat outside, then 2 ladies came in after. Well, the 2 ladies were treated and served drinks before anyone said anything to me. Ok, fine I'm not a regular....but still. When I was served my food the waitress said she would get me more coffee, 10 minutes later she finally came back with more. During that time any other waitress was complaining about the couple sitting outside, seriously if you are going to complain about your job, don't do it in front of patrons.
(2)Frank P.
Great on their feet servers. I walked in alittle unorientated, found a seat and the view of an traditional American breakfast diner came into view. The local crowd of mostly retired folks with visiting smiles, and one gentleman reading his morning paper at the counter, had a most warming feel of dinners I knew as a kid in the late 70's. With worn counters from years of service, and the home made bread; this place is has an outstanding breakfast. Eggs over easy and bacon that was cooked to my perfection. Traditional charm, and food priced to the local economy. A whopping 6.99 ticket for a full on breakfast with three cups of coffee. To drive past here hungry is taking a punch at American tradition. 5 plus stars! Frank Papp
(5)Amy G.
This place makes their own rolls and bread???!! If that is not enough to draw you in I don't know what is. It's just a classic old diner with great food and super great service. The waiters are just so nice and accommodating. The chocolate cream pie was so satisfying and I can't wait to try the other favors. Yum!
(5)Melinda C.
What can I say? We eat here a lot now. Almost any time Mom and I go out, we get lunch here. Well, really often anyway. And the food is so good here, we get lots of different things. Eggs, french toast, bacon or BLTs or cinnamon rolls or pie or or or... I think the only thing I don't like is the applesauce and that's just a side and I just switch it out for the pickled beets. The service is always great. Ask about the new graphic being painted on the back wall. It's being done by one of the waitresses and she's doing a fantastic job!
(4)Jessica S.
First Visit today and let me tell you it is now one of my favorite American dive/hole in the wall breakfast places. The bacon is cruntchy, the eggs are quite delcious, the bread is homemade and so good. I don't normally like biscuits and gravy, but I got a sdie order thinking I would take a bite and be done with it for a few years. Well I ate it all enjoying every bite, the biscuit was fluffy and crispy on the out side, not overly dense, and the gravy had large pieces of link sausage that made me sad that I got the bacon which was amazing on its own. I am a lover of pancakes... the waitress advised the waffle, and since she had no comment on any of the other questions I asked, she doesn't eat carbs and doesn't like sausage, I decided on the waffle for a change. What a good change it was. I am now blissfully sitting at work in a Carb Coma and look forward to going back as soon as possible to try other items. The food I had was so good I left with two pieces of pie and a cinnamon roll to munch on for the rest of the day. The rare down sides I saw is that the coffee is very watery, and my waitress wasn't quick on the refills even though I clearly stated to keep it full all the time. The creamer for the coffee is low fat milk, not half and half, which I prefer. I love coffee. It took 5 minutes to check out, waiting in line at the counter. The waitress was quick with the order and delivery of the food, but lost all interest in me after teh check was delivered, and I ordered $10 of to go food, which I had to flag her down to order. I am happy to go again... Hopefully they will open early enough in two days on my wy to the airport...which is totally out of the way.
(5)Alicia D.
Gus's is great! Homemade ours are to die for! Great breakfast and lunch menu. Extremely affordable. Each open day there is always a classic blue plate special as well. The homemade breads are delish and also available for purchase whole loaves. As are the PIES! Have we discussed these pies?! Yum don't miss out!
(5)Carolina L.
I really am looking for "wet fries" or crunchy hot fries smothered in gravy. Do you have those? I'm dying to find them! I would be so happy if you could post something on the menu or let me know.
(5)Fernandez S.
Great prices for a huge portion of food. Great down to earth staff. Will definitely try their pies next time I go
(5)Nelly M.
THE GIANT CINNAMON ROLL WITH ICING IS DELISH . Talk about fresh homemade good prices . Hubby and I are big fans of pop and mom shops . But WOW this place is AMAZING. BREAD IS HOMEMADE CRISPY BIG THICK SLICES AND YUMMY !! Hubby had the corned beef hash plate that came with homemade hash 2 eggs 2 pieces of homemade toast home fries and coffee he practically licked the plate . He knows about hash and its the real deal . I myslef had the willie omelet which came with hardy amount of steak onions mushrooms and cheese it aslo came with 2 pieces of toast and homemade fries plus coffee. We spent $20 that is all best money i spent this week ...coming back again forsure!!!!
(5)Cathy B.
I absolutely loved this place. Real food served by real people, and provided to real customers. I loved the mix of clientele. The country music on the radio. The prompt and caring service. And, of course the food. I was there for breakfast. AND I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE SWEET ROLLS so I ordered a full breakfast + a sweet roll "for dessert." THESE THINGS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR HEAD, people. And, better than what I can make at home -- and I make pretty good sweet rolls from scratch. Unlike other reviewers, I actually did *not* like the hash browns. I felt they were inconsistent. But since everyone else raves about them, I'll chalk it up to my particular plate on that particular day. I went. I ate. I bought a coffee mug. What else can I say?
(5)Luis P.
I went to breakfast with my family. The place was very busy as it should be because it is so good. We sat outside in the front area of the restaurant. Service was terrible. Flies were in abundance. There was only one clean table when we sat down. There were no people at any of the tables. Its a beautiful day for dining outside. When the cashier asked me how was everything I began by telling her that we had to come inside to request table service , well she walked away and ignored me. I've been going here for over 20 years. I don't recommend eating outside.
(3)Carolyn S.
Great home made buns & dinner rolls. The turkey is roasted in house from scratch, always fresh. My favorite. Nice service, very Friendly.
(4)Lynn J.
A real hole in the wall with good stick to your ribs cooking. I think they cook everything in butter. May not be the healthiest but you won't go wrong here. Try a piece of their butterscotch pie if you have room, or better yet, take home a whole pie.
(4)Nancy R.
My Dad lives in Tuscon and every time we visit him we go here for breakfast. I love the way they know his name and remember my step mom's name. And the food is really good. This is home cooking style food with homey feel to it. Love it.
(5)Glenn M.
Yelpers let me down on this one - average food at a decent price. The pie was average though I expected diner pie to be off the charts...maybe I needed to order something else...but did not like it enough to go back for a second chance.
(3)Amanda D.
Pies! Pies! Pies! So many pies to chose from at Gus B's! They have the standard fruit pies and just as many cream pies. I had breakfast not so long ago at Gus Balon's and observed the lengthy lists of pies and had an aha moment. My dad loves pies and I am not a baker, so I vowed to give Gus pies a chance for my dad's B-day. His Birthday pie was banana cream, which was a huge hit. My dad is a pie snob and this pie met his expectations of what a good pie should be. I love that you don't have to call ahead to order (good for grabbing a last minute dessert!). Father's Day pie for my dad was the coconut cream. He shared a piece with me (yes, he was willing to part with 1/8 of his pie) and claimed the rest is all his. Scrumptious! There is a chain restaurant that people often frequent for their pies but they are no match for Gus Balon's delicious pies!
(4)Steve Japan 4.
Well well well... that was he best breakfast I've had in probably 3 years. In town for a wedding and about to shoot a traveling food show, so we decided to stop by here after hearing all the rave reviews, and wow does this place exceed the hype. BEST French Toast I've ever had, and I'm a French Toast guy and I've traveled the country several times over and eaten more great French Toast than any man ever should in his lifetime and Gus Balon's takes the cake. 1st place, by a strong mile. The Scrambled Eggs were wonderful, great American Fried Potatoes, Home-made Toast was incredible, and the bacon was perfect (crisp, but not too lean or skinny). Can't wait to come back tomorrow for the Cinnamon Rolls and some pie. This is my new favorite restaurant in the southwest.
(5)Gwendolyn B.
How can a restaurant serve omelets and not have green pepper? Also, if you're wanting biscuits and gravy, better look elsewhere unless its a Tuesday because that is the ONLY day its served....by the way it isn't sausage gravy...just white. Lastly, the sauage has little to no flavor. That being said if you like cinnamon buns, I hear they are really good and the fresh baked bread is ok as well.
(2)Steve R.
Don't eat here if you like ham steak. Because you will forever judge other ham steak breakfasts by Gus Bslon's. They don't serve some skinny ass piece of ham. They give you the whole slab Sam! Super friendly staff, and CLEAN!
(5)Renee R.
Gus Balon's is legendary! Buy a loaf of bread to go! Great breakfasts! However, for decades their cinnamon rolls were the best you could possibly ever eat.. That is a long time ago.. For about the last 6-7 years, we have gone a few times a year to get our "fix" of gooey cinnamony sweet tender moist yummy cinnamon rolls.. And gagged! Each and every time, they've been dry, stale, tough, and a package of yuckie Walgreens' cruddy cinnamon rolls would rate way, way higher! Suffice to say. We're not going back.. Breaks my heart, as the memory of the old days bring back.. The best of the best!
(4)Kathy B.
This is my favorite breakfast spot! My #1 reason for this is the cinnamon rolls. They are made daily at the restaurant and remind me of the ones my Grandmother would make. I have read some reviews that the place is not as good as they expected. I don't know what they had in mind but to me this is the place you go for a good breakfast with homemade goodness! Unfortunately today is the last day they are open before they close for a month (closed July 15). So if you missed them today you have to wait 1 month to have their homemade goodness!
(5)Chris B.
My favorite goto for a Good, fast, homelike breakfast! The Cinnamon Rolls are to die for! Bread, rolls and pies are all made on site and are exquisite! Everything includes free Coffee or Ice Tea! Super fast, even when busy. i can be in and out in 15 minutes.
(5)Melinda D.
A Tucson Landmark. Everything is delicious here, I usually get the French toast (made with homemade bread) and fried potatoes. Pies are awesome (butterscotch!!!) and the servers are fast and friendly. Lunch is great although I usually have breakfast which is served all day. They are closed Sunday which bums me out but I try to deal with the pain. It is also very inexpensive. If you live here you already know (or should know), but if you are visiting from out of town, Gus Balon's is a must-try. It should be noted that back in the early 2000's I had never heard of this place (altho I lived in Tucson). I read about them in Epicurious magazine, they had won the award for best cinnamon roll in the country. That is a serious award by folks who know food. Go there.
(5)Brendan W.
I expected more from all the good reviews. A nice independent place. Breakfast was just bland. My friend had the turkey sandwich and thought it was terribly dry. We had a group of 6 and sat at two tables. They are all set up as 4 person booths. Not a place for larger groups.
(3)Geordie R.
Cinnamon roll! The review has to start and end here. These sweet treats are famous and it's easy to see why. They are both huge and delicious. I'm not sure why we ordered anything else - splitting a roll between two people should have been enough. The rest of the menu is standard diner fare with the pleasant exception of the home made bread. Service? Absolutely impeccable. The waitstaff are all seasoned pros and most other restaurants could learn a thing or two by watching this team work.
(4)Valerie S.
For a local restaurant it's pretty great. They have great comfort food and the bread rolls are to die for. I love this place really casual and homey feel. A very cool diner.
(5)Pepper P.
Best brekky around.... theres not much around. Very sweet staff... I found them to be absolutely delightful. The review about the potatoes was spot-on. They are indeed bland. The reason you should go here is that it is a convenient, (to the base) friendly, greasy spoon. AND they make everything here themselves! My opinion might be higher were I to be around long enough to try out those cinnamon rolls and French toast everyone is raving about.
(4)Corey D.
I blame the fact that I inhaled a cinnamon roll on my dear friend who said, "It won't be as bad if we split it." As if consuming 1200 calories at breakfast instead of 2400 is "not as bad!" It's tasty though, and sometimes that's all that matters! After an hour of pilates I felt like it was ok to meet a good friend I haven't seen in a while for some low down dirty b-fast. Buttered toast, home fries, scrambled eggs, it was TASTY. Even the cinnamon roll, which you can't really deny once you see one zoom past you! The service is incredible, they're on you like a hawk when you run out of coffee or water. My only gripe about the place, there aren't any veggie meats. I'm not a pork eater, so at breakfast I sort of rely on turkey patties or links. No go here. Sad. Know Before You Go: Don't go with my friend Amy if you're on a diet!
(4)Kelly L.
Great food and great service. the staff is super friendly. I've only eaten breakfast there. Usually can get a seat pretty easily and it all tastes fresh and amazing. Their pies are incredible - definitely take one home to impress the family! I got their pineapple cream pie which was unbelievable. not too sweet and not too wet/runny like some fruit pies - it was lovely!
(4)Jennifer D.
I would have given the place one more star, but the day we went to eat there, they ran out of the cinnamon buns. The fresh homemade wheat bread was kick @ss! I Had to buy a loaf. The service was quick and the staff was very nice! Good Decaf too!
(3)Rebecca F.
The food is good but the homemade bread is delicious! The service is always prompt and the waitresses are friendly. I always get the #3 and had to send the bacon back to day to crisp it up. It also seemed like the portion size on their yummy potatoes got smaller. I'm a pancake snob and if I was rating on the pancakes alone, I would give them 5 stars! They are large, fluffy and tasty. Their coconut cream pie is good too!
(4)Rod H.
I don't get it. At best this is bland, everyday breakfast food. The bacon was way over done and the cook must not have known how to baste an egg since they came to me over hard. The potatoes were good, but the rest was immanently forgettable. Apparently people love the cinnamon rolls but I'm not much for a sugar rush early in the morning. I tried the biscuit and gravy and again found it to be boring and bland. Watery iced tea kind of topped off the experience. I asked for the tea without lemon which is normally a waste of breath since most servers go into auto serve mode and stick it on the edge of the glass anyway. This time it came with three huge slices floating in the glass. Sigh... There are better bland overdone breakfasts out there.
(2)Geoffrey A.
I love this place! Service is wicked fast, waitresses are friendly, food is quite good. I stick to the Kyle's Omelet add green chilies, no bread(Can't eat it), but it is baked fresh on site. Oh and get the potatoes extra chrispy.
(4)Tia W.
Sadly, I have been here for 4 years and I never knew this place was there even thought I drive down that street all the time. I recommend adding something eye-catching out front because this place is most-definitely worth the stop. For my first visit (12/18/14), I had the cinnamon roll French toast and it was awesome! The food came out pretty fast and tasted great. Also, this little gem serves PIES! And you can buy whole ones to take home with you. We got the Apple Pie and I will definitely be back for more. I might be bringing one home to have with Christmas dinner! My only complaint would be the waitress. I have never had someone roll their eyes at the customer so many times. She would put a smile on her face and then when we asked for something else, she would huff and roll her eyes then storm off to the kitchen area- so I was disappointed in that. While I understand trying to deal with a lot of people can get frustrating, we probably shouldn't be on the receiving end- just sayin'. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â----- 12/20/14- Update: I decided to go back and to take my kids on a breakfast date. Again, the food is fantastic! It is super fast and is great tasting. We all loved our food. Our server today was awesome and was so patient with the kids changing their minds. Unfortunately, the girl at the register was snotty with me. Very nicely, I asked if they offered a military discount- that's the only crime I committed. I didn't get a greeting or a smile. Instead, her response, right after an exaggerated eye roll was very rude and hateful and she informed me that if I want my discount in the future, I need to ask the server for it- not the cashier. The staff do not wear nametags, so I have no idea who this young girl was. Its very unfortunate because I would love to recommend this place to friends, but I can't send them there for great food and bad attitudes-that's just not right. So, that makes 2 waitresses that I have dealt with who seem to be hating life at the best restaurant in town. I have decided, however, that at some point in the future I will give this place one more try and if I still experience the attitudes, then that's 3 strikes and I'm finding a new favorite.
(4)Anna W.
Breakfast portions are huge. And the French swirl cinnamon roll isn't on the menu. If you haven't tried that there, you have to! I can't stop eyeing their pies. Pies galore there. Reminds me of the Mt Lemmon cafe. Server told us that everything is made from scratch. Very friendly and fast service. Always packed when we come here, it's that good! This last trip, the manager / owner was very insistent on not allowing us to be served part of the whole pie there. We had 3 kids with us too and I even offered to give a very generous tip, but nope, she wouldn't budge because they would rather sell by the slice if you enjoy it there. So 1 less star for not being accomodating. Now to think of it, to have a whole pie and it be the same? If I had to do it again, I would buy slices of varieties. We got sick of so much of the same pie, although it was delicious. It's nice to be able to give away the rest though. :-) Thank goodness the server we would have had was as pleasant as she possibly could be under the circumstances. Thank you for that.
(3)Peg P.
Stop the presses! Head out to one of the best breakfast places in the Old Pueblo. It feels like a trip back to a better time, sitting here at Gus's. I had the cheese omelette, which was huge. It came with 2 slices of buttered toast, fried American potatoes, and coffee. My partner had the famous cinammon roll, which totally blew both of us away with its taste. She gives it 5 Stars. (She still loves the cinammon rolls at LeCave's the best but says they are two totally different types of rolls.) All this food for around $10.00. The service was fast and friendly. The place was packed with a continual stream of folks coming in for breakfast. We will most certainly return to Gus's. And try some of those pies. Meanwhile, we did buy a loaf of their hearty rye bread and a loaf of wheat bread to take home.
(4)Kyle S.
Middle of the road breakfast lunch place. I can think of several of these in town and seriously this one is not special. If you want better food just keep driving down 22nd to the bread and butter cafe. So After dropping off the rabbit at the VW dealership we go get some breakfast, its a monday morning between 8-9AM menus are on the table open it up and thump I get the feeling that the car dealership isnt going to be the worst value for money of the day. I LOVE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK, BUT, for a place that prides its self on no frills simple good home style food $11 is a bit too much for chicken fried steak. I also love french toast and they make their own bread there. however maybe you shouldn't just run the loaf through the slicer machine for the french toast the 3 slice portion was around $5 for just the toast and my 2 slice french toast 2 eggs and 2 pieces of bacon was $7 and an a la carte short stack of 2 pancakes was $4. so how were the overpriced breakfast items, The french toast was nice but too thin and had little flavor. The pancakes were good, but not $4 for 2 cakes good. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and the bacon was cheap bargain basement thin cut swill. I WILL NOT GO BACK, Not because It was horrific but It was over priced for what it is. If I left there tip included at $11 then yeah but $16 you are over the mark. It should have 1.5 $ Seriously go to the bread and butter cafe better food better people batter value for money. Also Bobo's on speedway is better.
(2)Liz W.
Fast, simple, home cooked food.
(4)Kelly R.
Yummy breakfast for a very good price and includes coffee. Was really busy but the staff worked hard to make sure everyone was taken care of. They were very friendly and the food portions were large.
(4)Mary R.
I had heard about the fabled cinnamon roll at Gus Balon's, so of course I had to investigate. It certainly lives up to the size claim; share with a friend or two, especially if you order a full meal. It's tasty, but it doesn't make the cut for my top ten (in Tucson, The Good Egg does it better.) The icing is unimpressive. The texture is what does it in: ideally, a cinnamon roll should be firm and almost crisp on the outside and a touch doughy in the center curl. Gus Balon's was more dry/soggy. The menu has plenty of options, some with Mexican flair. (Try an omelet with chiles, cheese, etc.) I advise choosing one of these rather than just a standard eggs/meat/toast plate, as those are available anywhere (and usually with better execution). The prices are reasonable, and they have indoor and outdoor seating, which is a perk. Overall, though, I can't say I'd go out of my way to visit; it's quite a leg out in the southeast part of town, and I need something more spectacular to justify the gas-burning.
(3)Dale Y.
Great food, excellent service, all menu items our party had were very good. Cinnamon Rolls are great. Pie menu is unbelievable if you like pie they have it!
(4)Emily K.
Cinnamon bun lives up to the glory. As for the rest - if you are into a greasy spoon breakfast, you'll love... Definitely worth the visit just for the decor and feel of the place. Quentin Tarantino should scope it out for his next flick.
(3)Leo B.
Good breakfast and some nice comfort food lunches. No credit cards is a pain in the neck.
(4)a c.
The cinnamon roll is really good. I had the french toast and it was the best french toast I've ever had. The coffee could use some improvement. The place has a very friendly local diner feel. The service was great. Prices were reasonable. I'd definitely go back!
(3)Drea K.
The best breakfast you'll ever have. Prices are cheap and the food comes fast. Cash only and sometimes there can be a little bit of a wait but its never too long. You won't find anything fancy on the menu its your basic old fashion American Diner. Side note: dont come here if you're on a diet. do come if you're looking to stuff yourself silly.
(4)Andy S.
There's nothing better sometimes than eggs and toast with lots of butter served by a waitress that calls you 'Hon'. I don't think that you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Watch out when driving by this place, there is always glass in the street from where some octogenarian has slammed on the brakes before turning in and had their land yacht smacked.
(4)