Ham-Bonz
1108 E 8th St, Traverse City, MI, 49686
Ham-Bonz Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1108 E 8th St
Traverse City, MI, 49686 - Phone (231) 929-9288
- Website https://www.ham-bonz.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
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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Jennifer B.
Great little dive restaurant! We stopped in for breaksfast on our way out of town after our hotel breakfast wasn't anything to try a second day in a row. The place is small but we were there pretty early on a Sunday and were the only couple there for a while. The waitress was fast and friendly. I got the french toast and you get 4 huge slices. My boyfriend got the "Hog Wild" and said it was delicious. Definitely a place I'd stop again!
(4)Dan M.
Holy enormous portions. My wife and I stopped in looking for a simple breakfast. I've heard the food was good here, but sweet baby Jesus, I had no idea the portions they give you would leave even Takeru Kobayashi with a belly ache. Wifey got a simple order of eggs, potatoes and toast. She barely finished it all. I had the pulled pork omelet with potatoes and toast. The omelet was really quite good, but I ended up leaving like half of it because there was just so much freaking food. Their hot sauce is really good too, I get the impression they make their own here. As for other tips besides bringing your competitive eater appetite, be aware there's not a lot of seating here. I think there was only about 6 tables inside and you're pretty darn close to the grill. We walked out smelling like we cooked the meal ourselves.
(4)Brian R.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is great. Had breakfast and the waitress was very friendly, explaining the favorites. I went with the Hog Wild... Ham, bacon, sausage over potatoes covered with cheese, sausage gravy & 2 eggs. Wow! Enough to take home. Also tried the homemade hot sauce which was spicy yet not too hot.
(5)Paul R.
I went with the pulled pork sandwich. It was really good and came out super fast. Don't let the outside of the building fool you. It's worth going to.
(4)Mike B.
We spent the night in TC and was looking for a place to grab some coffee and breakfast before heading to Gaylord to ski, used Yelp to find Ham Bonz. The reviews sold me, but even pulling I wondered if I made the right decision....I did. It was fantastic, the coffee was great and the food was even better. Give it a try, definitely worth it.
(5)Jim S.
Incredible hole in the wall find. The focus on quality ingredients is obvious. Not for the vegetarian but yet even their slaw and coffee are great. Great for breakfast or lunch. Cuban sandwich is awesome. Skip the chips as they are just a bag of Ruffles. Do NOT visit Traverse City without stopping here.
(5)jennifer g.
This is a wonderful place for breakfast. The tiny diner is easy to get to and is very quick. The portions are large and fresh ingredients are used. The man minding the grill is friendly and quite talented. If you are looking for a good breakfast at a good price, this is the place to go. My friend had the pulled pork omelette and I had the 8th street omelet. Both were well made.
(5)Kavi P.
I'd say this place was 'ok'. I enjoyed the potatoes. The coffee was no good and there was no artificial sweeteners at hand. However, it served it's purpose for a quick breakfast spot.
(3)Michaela C.
At this point I love every food place... Great, but this place is really astonishing. Everyone in my family of four was EXTREMELY happy with their food. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was so huge and so packed with meat that I got full off of 1/4 of the sandwich and I got to enjoy it for lunch for four more days. It was truly delicious. I will definitely come back to this place every year I come back to Michigan!
(5)Anna S.
AWESOME little spot! You'd probably miss it if you drove by! I love small, divey places like this and this place hit the spot. Two friends got pulled pork sandwiches and they looked great - the pork is nicely shredded and has just enough tangy, vinegary sauce on it. Hubby had some sort of sandwich with ham, smoked turkey and bacon and he enjoyed it. I had the smothered chicken breast which was non-BBQ, but really good! It was fried chicken strips with HOMEMADE sausage gravy on them. SO good. The cole slaw that came with everyone's meal was homemade and GREAT. Also, the fried potatoes were fantastic. You gotta give it a shot!
(5)JonNDebby P.
I have driven by this place many times but thought it was only a take-out joint. Other Yelp reviewers set me straight. Space is limited, but we got in easily on a freezing, snowy Thursday morning. The food was amazing! My country omelette was covered in delicious homemade sausage gravy. My husband ordered the Hog Wild, which featured a bed of crispy fried cheese topped with eggs, ham, potatoes, and sausage gravy. Crispy cheese? Sooooo awesome. The wheat toast was real bread, not cheap bag bread. The waitress brought over some homemade hot sauce, which spiced up the sausage gravy--even better! I believe the cook and the waitress owned the place. They obviously care about the food and provide fast and friendly service. We will definitely be returning in the future.
(5)Leigh W.
Fantastic breakfast - it was exactly what we were craving. Tiny tiny little place, were there the Monday before xmas and things were quiet but filled up quite quickly after about 9 am. Great service - I had the "atkins omelet" with bacon, ham and sausage and my husband had the cubano sandwich, all excellent. It's worth seeking out (parking is behind the restaurant.)
(5)Brittany A.
Super small hole in the wall but tasty. Big portions. Nothing that will blow your away your palette, but you won't leave hungry.
(4)Marcia C.
This is he BEST breakfast spot in town. I was there last week and had a fantastic Bare Bonz skillet. That means no ham, but it was cheesy goodness. Sliced potatoes, cheese, onions, fried in a skillet. The cheese was all crispy and fried around the edges and to die for. My daughter had the pancakes which seemed to be homemade with a generous dash of cinnamon. This place is very small, so you might have to wait for,a table. Or, better, yet order carry out. Portions are large.
(5)Braden A.
Everything is awesome here. Try the pit ham on your sandwiches and for lunch in substitution for their normal ham. The staff does a great job with timeliness and takes orders over the phone very well. I work next door, and have gotten busy after I've ordered and the staff has walked the sandwich over a few times. Great service! The taste of the food is unusually good. If you've never been here, do it! You'll keep going back.
(5)Amanda P.
Delicious! My favorite little gem in TC for breakfast! The waitress was attentive and my coffee was always hot.
(4)D. C.
I travel extensively for work and pleasure, and I always enjoy finding the little out of the way local places that always have the best food. I've passed this restaurant many times while in Traverse City. Each time I thought I should stop in. I finally did on 08-05-14 and am glad I did. A diamond in the rough. Small, plain, friendly, reasonably priced, and the food is awesome. 3 of us ordered the pork sandwich, a friend ordered the Cuban. Everyone was impressed. They have a breakfast plate that is ham, bacon, and sausage over potato's with biscuits and smothered with gravy. Next time!
(5)Wendy K.
I really enjoyed this place! It is a little off the beaten track of the Traverse City tourist spots (just by a block or two). The inside is tiny - when we arrived for breakfast every table was taken. A gentleman offered to let us share his table (isn't that nice?) but then we were told there was seating outside on the side of the building. We were the only ones on the patio, which was adorned with lots of pretty potted and hanging flowers. It was a great place to enjoy breakfast on a 70 degree morning. The woman who took our order was very nice and helpful (she may have been the owners?). I think she may have even been cooking the food, too. We ordered an omelette and corned beef hash. Everything was fabulous. The whole wheat toast was thick and tasty. The corn beef hash was homemade and probably the best I've ever had! I highly recommend it. Service was great and the food was even better. I love finding these out fo the way, local places!
(5)Wendy H.
Great place for BREAKFAST, or lunch. Gigantic portions and watch the chef cook. Have decent coffee ... But always fresh.
(5)Walter D.
This little dive has some of the best smoked meets in town. It also has a small, cozy atmosphere and the waitress is always friendly. There Cuban is to die for. I recommend the homemade hot sauce.
(5)John H.
Don't get the great reviews, ham was not that great. Pit had a good smoke flavor, ham seemed old.
(1)Dave M.
Ham-Bonz is definitely a down-home place. Compared to Frenchies Famous, it's roomy and well-kept. My companion and I ordered the veggie omelet, which turned out to be very old-school - eggs folded in a rectangular form around over-cooked vegetables and a dodgy cheese-like food. The coffee was totally forgettable. There was also a loud blower running, which made it hard to hear. The fried potatoes were well prepared, and the bacon was top-notch. The server was friendly and helpful.
(2)Nickie P.
Cuban sandwich = absolutely delicious. The only downside of delicious barbecue is that the place is small and the whole thing smells. To me, it smelled like stale frying oil, so I would suggest ordering your food to go if you can't deal with the scents. I would definitely go back for more bbq!
(4)Grant W.
Best place in TC for breakfast. We have been coming here for years to have breakfast when we are in town. Everything is quality homemade food, not the typical frozen food service type place. I love the homemade smoked meats, and sourdough bread. Give it a try you will be back for more.
(5)Dave M.
Don't let the divey exterior fool you, this place offers up some fantastic eats for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, I had the "hog wild", a plate piled with homemade fried potatoes, bacon, ham, scrambled eggs with sausage gravy, smothered in melted cheddar. Absolutely delicious, and a cure for anything bringing you down. On a subsequent visit, we stopped for lunch and I had the pulled pork sandwich. There's a smoker out back, which gets put to good use. The pork was flavorful, tender and juicy. Piled high on what almost looked like a brioche bun, the sandwich is served with twice fried french fries. Other items at our table included a Cuban sandwich and split pea soup which both received rave reviews.
(4)Jason C.
Locals told us about this place while we were hunting for a place to eat dinner... this place is very small, they have 3 tables that seat 2 ppl and 3 tables that seats 4 people... It's husband/wife operation... the husband does the cooking and the wife is the server. As I looked at the menu, wasn't sure what to get, then I checked out their specials and saw 'Whole Hog'... two strips of bacon, one sausage, ham, hash with pork gravy with eggs and a toast... $9 - easy decision. Then someone wanted to split the bbq pork sandwich, so I jumped in on that deal. Now, it's a small operation, so expect some time to get your food, especially if its crowded... The BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich came out first and man, the bun was crispy and the pulled pork was excellent, great combination... finished the half sandwich within two minutes!! The meat was tender, perfectly cooked, the sauce wasn't strong or weak, just perfect... next time I go, I'll get the whole sandwich for myself! The Whole Hog, well, it will fill you up for sure! The toast that it comes with is from a local bakery, very thick and excellent. The sausage and the bacon was great, the ham was little dry, but it was good. The pork gravy on top of the potatoes - YUM!!!! After consuming around 3000 calories, we had to depart for our next adventure... I would highly recommend their pulled pork bbq sandwich and the whole hog!
(4)Sue S.
We went here twice last week for breakfast, on the basis of Yelp comments. What a great place! Congenial staff and other customers, excellent food. My made-to-order hash was some of the best I've ever had, and my husband loved his ham and cheese omelet and home-made toast. Wish we had had time to try more meals here! Go! You won't be sorry!
(5)Adam M.
Amazingly good pulled pork! A must have! Thinking of something else? Stop that thought get the pulled pork. Delicious BBQ sauce and the most tender pork you'll ever eat in your life. We just missed closing time and they offered to stay open for us. You really can not beat how incredible this place is.
(5)Rick S.
Don,t let this small place stop you from the best breakfast any were. Great service try the whole hog of hog gone wild
(5)Kristin F.
So we came here around 7AM on a Saturday- I had some early morning things to do and we had some time to kill in-between. This was my first time ever entering the premises of what is Ham-Bonz... and I'm a native. Crazy. B insisted that it was a delicious diner, so we proceeded to have breakfast. I had always thought of it as a police trap (hence the name), so I never went. Silly me. We ordered breakfast- I got the veggie omelette special. Chuck full of vegetables- mushroom, onion, pepper, cheese, etc etc. Yum. I was only able to complete about 1/3 of it- for $4.99! Breakfast, lunch, and breakfast. I am now a believer.
(4)Nick W.
Definitely Traverse City's best kept secret!! I decided to stop in by myself before work for lunch on a Friday afternoon around 1pm. You seat your self but there is only about 6 tables to choose from or you can sit at the bar. The kitchen and cook is right at the bar so you can see your food being made. There was only two workers: the waitress and the cook. The waitress brought me my menu and got my drink. She gave me some time to look over the menu but I knew what I wanted from looking at other reviews. I ordered the pit ham sandwich with honey mustard with slaw. I got my meal in a timely manner. The portion was huge! A big sandwich and a generous amount of slaw. The slaw had corn and beans in it which I've never seen before but it was amazing! Order the slaw for your side. The pit ham sandwich was also very good!! Smoked flavor with honey mustard on a toasted bun was full of flavor!! I recommend it a lot!! The outside of the building is deceiving but the inside was nice and clean and welcoming. I liked how the kitchen was right there for you to see everything. Service and food was 5 out of 5 and you have to try it!! But don't go expecting a fancy upscale resteraunt. It is a very laid back, easy going place which I liked a lot. Go try it for yourself!!
(5)Brody U.
Best breakfast around. Staff is friendly and the prices are more than reasonable for the heaping plate of deliciousness you recieve! Gotta check it out.
(5)Dea A.
I love dive places and this is a dive placing trying to be a dive place... if you catch my drift. I wouldn't call this place cheap, but it was reasonable. The coffee kept coming, the wait staff was quick and pleasant, the eggs were done to perfection, and the ham was perfect.
(3)T S.
THE best ham sandwich I've ever eaten. Piping hot buttered bun, thick smoked ham and mustard. Simple and perfection. Bought it for my daughter and was so happy she wasn't hungry. Neither was I, for that matter, but I couldn't stop eating it. Food highlight of my visit to this city!
(5)Cindy L.
The corned beef hash breakfast is my favorite here ... So good that I get it every time I'm in TC and I can't order it anywhere else!
(5)Paul D.
After seeing the outside I was skeptical but when I made the plunge I would rate it the best breakfast I have ever had!
(5)Joseph C.
Holy Ham Goodness! This place definitely lives up to its advertisement as "Award winning BBQ" and "Home of TC'a famous pit meats!" Great food. Great service. Great hole-in-the-wall ambience. Today I tried the Pit Ham sandwich. Ham was cooked to perfection, full of flavor, but still juicy and tender (not overcooked, not dry). The buns are light, so they don't distract from the main attraction and the portions are large -- could easily share this sandwich or have some for later. (Granted, I ate the whole thing so that I can enjoy an afternoon coma/nap, but it could have been shared.) Fries were equally awesome and plentiful, and the service was fast, friendly and very good. This was my first visit, it will not be my last. ¡Vive la Ham Bonz!
(5)Mike G.
This is the Mid Western BBQ ive been looking for small, out of the way, inespensive and great tasting, an eatery must !!
(5)Kenny H.
Food is average, like any other breakfast joint just with tourist prices. Found a couple of hairs in the omelettes. Watch out for the waitress, she's vicious.
(1)Michele A.
Great old fashioned place. The ham is perfect every time. Breakfast is cheap big and tasty. They have great bread as well and treats for dogs.
(5)L P.
Ham-Bonz is a straightforward divey establishment. We were looking for basic breakfast, and we were not disappointed! I ordered the breakfast sandwich with bacon and it came off the flat top ripping hot. Their sourdough roll was a great balance of soft and crusty. Manfriend ordered biscuits and gravy, and it was some of the best gravy I've ever tasted. The bits of sausage were plentiful and it seemed like there was some sage or some other herb in the mix that kicked it up a notch. It seems like the omelets and meat breakfast meals came with a lot of extra items, but ours did not...which was fine because we were plenty filled up. Manfriend did order an egg on the side. As other reviews have mentioned, it is very tiny inside and do not try to come with a party larger than 4. There is no room to wait inside, but they try to turn tables quickly--we only waited maybe 10 mins. It was a little weird that there isn't a list; I guess the waitresses are just really great at remembering which faces came first. I'm not sure what others meant by "beware the waitress" because both of the ladies working this morning were great! We got out of there for under $20 which is a breakfast success in my book!
(5)sara k.
I've only ever ordered up the pulled pork bbq sandwich, but it's the house specialty. And it's good. The $8 price tag gets you an enormous sandwich that you have to cut in half with chips and a pickle. Service is so-so. Friendly enough, I guess. Yes, it is tiny, but seating is usually available at lunchtime, anyway. They call it TC's best kept secret. But why would you want your business to be a secret?
(3)Jenni M.
My cholesterol may never be the same, but this place was awesome. I had the "Hog Wild" - a mountain of potatoes, bacon, ham, cheddar, and sausage gravy. I left off the egg. It was so ridiculously delicious. Still, I barely ate half, so consider sharing this with a friend.
(4)Melissa L.
Every time I'm in Traverse City, I try to hit this place at least once for breakfast. Yes, it's small...yes, it's a dive....yes, the service is slightly slow as it is just a husband and wife team. BUT IT'S WORTH IT. I hate chain restaurants with a passion. Food at those places never turn out right. At Ham-Bonz, the cook never gets it wrong. YUM. HUGE portions. Great prices!
(4)Dennis K.
My wife and I split the Ham-Bonz special and were very satisfied. The corned beef was tasty. We added a side of biscuits and gravy. By far the best gravy I've eaten in a restuant in a long time. The waitress and the cook were really very friendly. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'd like to try some of the smoked meats that come out of that big smoker behind the building.
(4)Dave M.
A thorougly decadent grilled ham and cheese with thick cut tasty tender ham. It's a bit greasy but, hey, this place is a dive right? It's fun to watch the owner/ chef methodically cook at the grill. He's seems a little slow for a grill cook but his creations are worth the wait.
(4)John C.
Great little breakfast joint, if you like a lot of meat for breakfast (and who doesn't) this place is great. The porkbelly breakfast was great - Smokey flavored and cooked to perfection. It's what Bacon wants to be when it grows up ツ The Hog Wild breakfast will fill you up and keep you going all day. Good service makes this place worthy of 4 stars. For the 5th star I'd like better coffee, their coffee was okay but not as good as their breakfasts.
(4)John G.
Great local spot for breakfast. We stopped in based on the reviews after finding out that the original choice was permanently closed (FYI for anyone else trying to go to crow about it). It was a good detour though because the food here was pretty good. Staff was not the friendliest but effective. The place is tiny and when we asked to add a 5th seat to a table we got a look like we had two heads. But all in all it was a good enough spot to stop in for some breakfast. I had the special omelette which was very tasty and cooked well. My sister had the pancakes which were huge and she said they were scrumptious. Rest of the gang had standard breakfast fare and all was satisfactory. Give it a look.
(3)Will G.
Great little diner with fresh delicious food. Small so be prepared to wait a few minutes, but it's totally worth it. I highly recommend the "Smokey Bear" sandwich covered in there homemade hot sauce. Definitely a place I'll be visiting again when in TC.
(5)Tamara K.
Hate we found this late in our trip but it is a great breakfast spot!! The ham is unbelievable and hubby loved his pulled pork omelet!! Coffee was delicious and Amanda's service was the best!
(4)Suzy B.
Food was burnt when I got it. Not the best BBQ I've had.
(1)Anjanette T.
Our son lives here and serves in the USCG and recommended this as one of his favorite places. Just ate breakfast here---yum!! We had the pit ham hash with eggs and toast. Loved the true smoked flavor of the ham. The portion size was perfect. Meal was served fresh and hot. Place is tiny but clean inside. Don't miss this place!
(5)Nathan F.
Review posted in error. :-(
(3)Daniel C.
The food here was pretty damn good - we actually ate here twice, once for breakfast and once to grab sandwiches to go. All the meats are terrific (no surprise there) and the Smokey Bear sandwich was great and lived up to its name (the smokey part...not the bear part). At breakfast, the pancakes were also really, really good and perfectly cooked. But, unfortunately, the waitress who was running the place (I get the impression she is probably the manager or related to the owner, or generally in charge of running the joint) was just a total nightmare of a person. Granted, it was a holiday weekend, but she was just incredibly shitty to everyone except the regulars in the restaurant. Visibly rolling her eyes at requests for things like syrup or napkins, throwing stuff down on the tables, and just generally being a pain in the ass. I have very thick skin and am not looking for Four Seasons-style service when going to a diner, but she just gave off a really negative vibe that definitely hurt our overall experience.
(3)Larry H.
Great food. Home town atmosphere. Will return the next time we are in TC. Very friendly and efficient waitress.
(5)Ian B.
Good breakfast! It's true what others are writing, the ham is pretty damn good. The pancakes my daughter ordered were excellent. My wife had the Cuban sandwich, which wasn't served on the 'traditional' (for Cubanos) french bread (e.g. pan criollo), but it was excellent. She raved about the french fries. I had the pork belly, eggs & potatoes. The pork belly was AWESOME and smoked to perfection. The eggs were just right. While I prefer my potatoes (fried/breakfast) a little less crispy, they were tasty. They have a homemade hot sauce that is just flavorful (not really hot - to my taste). We enjoyed it so much that we grabbed a pulled pork sandwich to go so we could keep living the smoky goodness experience later into the day. The service was excellent (poor server, she was rockin'!). The joint is small, but charming and intimate. We were fortunate to arrive JUST in time to grab a table big enough for the three of us - there are only a few four tops. Good smoke!
(4)Sara M.
This place should be on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives. It's certainly a dive. It's a tiny room with a couple of small tables, the opposite of luxurious. Like a diner you would expect to see on a highway in the middle of nowhere. But the food, the food! The food. Soooo yummy. All of the breakfast classics made bigger and better. Great corned beef hash. I'm pretty sure there is a 10 egg omelette. They also make a mean sandwich. The Cuban was the special the day we went and it was awesome! Definitely one of those novelty stops you go to half for the Instagram...but I would love to go back!
(5)Joe M.
Wasted my time! The place is TINY. The exterior and interior is disgusting. The reviews were good, so we were going ro suck it up and try them. We were a party of 6, and they didn't have a table. The server said it was only about a 15 minute wait and convinced us to wait for a table. A good amount of time passed and we saw several people leave. Guess what? She wasn't saving the tables for us to push together. As people left and new customers came in, she was just giving those tables away. A customer leaving told us this was happening also. Definitely AVIOD this place if you have more than 4 people in your party. This is poor business practice.
(1)Chrystal M.
Looks like a dive. Don't let looks fool you. Friendly staff. Good diner food. Pit meats. All yum. Don't expect anything fancy like sugar alternatives. If you need that, bring your own. Small inside, only a few tables. Sunday morning crowd is sparse.
(5)Anna J.
Don't drive past it! Looks a little "home town" but worth going in! Pulled pork in an omelet?! Yes please! And the smoked pit ham was smokin'! Go for the whole wheat toast- you won't regret it.
(5)Mande B.
We've visited Ham Bonz now three times and have been more than happy each trip. Obviously the ham is delish.... But the corned beef hash is also a really tasty breakfast option. Be prepared to take some of your breakfast bounty home when visiting this wonderful TC spot! I will warn you - the seating is limited so don't be afraid to order takeout!
(5)Kris F.
We drove in the parking lot and I said hummmmm I don't think so - my husband said "give it a shot" we did and we will be back!!!!!! The food was spectacular! This 6 table small BBQ eatery does it right. The hot sauce heats up and then fades on your tongue like no other! Kinda like you wanted hot - but I want you to taste the meat you ordered too! Coleslaw super!!! Fries tasty. Pit Ham - ohhhhhh myyyyy delicious!!!! Try it honest - the staff is sweet and friendly too!
(5)Kara H.
This place. Holy smokes. If you're a fan of meat, this is the place for you. We came here for breakfast today (8/24/15) and were impressed. The building is tiny and unassuming - to dine in, there is a handful of tables inside, and a couple outside. Take out business is busy - people were in and out the whole time we were eating. The restaurant to dine in was fairly empty when we arrived, but filled up right after we sat down. I stuck with standard breakfast fare - ham and cheese omelette with sourdough toast. The Ham is smokey, juicy and salty, snuggled into lightly cooked eggs and melty cheese. My husband ordered "The Whole Hog" - a skillet sans skillet, with ham, sausage, bacon, potatoes and cheese, covered in sausage gravy with your choice of eggs. To say these choices were delicious is a borderline understatement. Everything was perfectly done and came out ridiculously fast - I think from the time we ordered to the first bite was close to 5 minutes. The coffee is strong and hot - perfect for a breakfast like this. Do yourself a favor - if you're looking for a delicious, no nonsense breakfast, hightail it to Ham-Bonz.
(5)Gregorio Q.
Absolutely amazing! Service was perfect and the food was even better! Very reasonably priced!
(5)Chris A.
Let me start by saying this is truly a dive restaurant. While sitting at one of the five tables you may feel as though you're in the kitchen. While the restaurant is decently ventilated, you will leave here smelling like grease and food smoke. All this being said my food, I ordered the Hog-Wild was good, nothing to out of this world. The kicker and why I gave it 3 stars is based on my girlfriends food. She ordered the BBQ pulled pork, it was absolutely terrible. It tasted like essentially like a manwich, but somehow worse. It was just the taste that was bad though, the meat was juicy and tender. They are completely ruining the good start they already had. If you decide to take the plunge into the next stop on restaurant impossible, stay with a breakfast food. I would keep searching though, there are plenty of other diners in town.
(3)Liz C.
Great food! Smaller space but seating available outside. Great way to start your day. Breakfast and lunch are a win.
(4)Anissa O.
This place is just the best in the city! It does have limited seating and if categorize it as a "whole in the wall" kind of place...but I find those have the best food!! Limited hours so get here and try it!!!
(5)Jenny A.
This place is SOOOOOO good! It looks a little scary outside, but don't let that deter you. A great meal awaits! The owner/cook even made some sausage links for my kids that sat at the bar. So nice! We will be back when we are in town.
(5)Gabrielle W.
I tried Ham-Bonz for the first time today, figured it was about time since I've lived in TC 4+ years. I called and tried ordering the Huevos Rancheros, which the lady on the phone said they hadn't had for a while. The reason I left off a star is because they need to update the menu on their website. I work in an office, so I rely on whatever menu I can find to call in an order. I ordered my next choice, the Pit Turkey Club w/Bacon & Cheddar. Pick-up was easy, lots of parking, my food was ready when I got there, and the waitress/cashier was pleasant. The sandwich was delicious! It was also huge!! I opted for potato chips instead of coleslaw, as I read reviews that they have beans & corn in their coleslaw, which isn't up my alley. The cheese was good quality and gave so much flavor to the sandwich. The turkey wasn't too thick or hunky and just as tasty. And I never say no to bacon, which made this a fantastic club. I didn't think to ask for any packets of mayo / hot sauce, so I went without condiments and the sandwich stood fine on it's own. I would definitely eat from here again. Especially since it's fast, reasonably priced and right down the road from my work. I love sandwiches, so I'd love to try the pulled pork. And I'd also like to try the breakfast, cause I hear it's awesome.
(4)Karen L.
Small place, but the smoker in the back lets you know you are getting the real deal! It was hard to choose, so we might just come back tomorrow to try something else. Friendly service, great food, ample portions.
(4)David Z.
Excellent bbq ,split pea soup ,chicken strips with gravy. Are here on day one of trip. Returned in day two it was so good
(5)Brittany D.
Very small diner but good food. Walked in there are like 6 tables and the kitchen that's it! Some seating outside as well. Very good food, good price and good service!
(4)Bob R.
Stopped for takeout lunch on the way south from the Peninsula--really enjoyed our food. Delicious ham and an excellent Cuban. We will make a point of stopping here every visit to Traverse City now. Check it out!
(4)Michigan H.
The place won't jump out at you from the street. If you do see it, your first inclination will be to keep driving. Don't. The cheesy pink paint job and humble storefront is not indicative of the meal that awaits you. The menu is simple, and you can't go wrong with the sandwiches. My recommendation is to get the smokey bear: smoked ham, smoked bacon, melted cheese on a crusty roll of perfection. You simply won't find a better sandwich in Michigan. Maybe in your life. The place is small, tacky and the wait staff is usually not thrilled to have to be serving you. But the place is an absolute gem that I've been visiting for 5 years and will continue to patronize for many years to come.
(5)Amanda V.
Delicious! Great hole-in-the-wall joint. Get the breakfast sandwich with pulled pork!!
(5)Greg C.
This place is a must for anyone who loves smoky goodness is a sandwich. We had the smokey bear, the stacked ham, the pulled pork, and the stacked corned beef. They were all fantastic! It's a little deceiving when the sandwiches arrive with no condiments of any kind. We almost asked for spicy mustard, but don't do it. The smoked ham doesn't need anything, but the amazing bun that it comes in. The cole slaw is also very good. Corn, cabbage and just the right balance of sweet and heat. We will definitely come back every summer when we are in town.
(5)Ian B.
Good breakfast! It's true what others are writing, the ham is pretty damn good. The pancakes my daughter ordered were excellent. My wife had the Cuban sandwich, which wasn't served on the 'traditional' (for Cubanos) french bread (e.g. pan criollo), but it was excellent. She raved about the french fries. I had the pork belly, eggs & potatoes. The pork belly was AWESOME and smoked to perfection. The eggs were just right. While I prefer my potatoes (fried/breakfast) a little less crispy, they were tasty. They have a homemade hot sauce that is just flavorful (not really hot - to my taste). We enjoyed it so much that we grabbed a pulled pork sandwich to go so we could keep living the smoky goodness experience later into the day. The service was excellent (poor server, she was rockin'!). The joint is small, but charming and intimate. We were fortunate to arrive JUST in time to grab a table big enough for the three of us - there are only a few four tops. Good smoke!
(4)Sara M.
This place should be on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives. It's certainly a dive. It's a tiny room with a couple of small tables, the opposite of luxurious. Like a diner you would expect to see on a highway in the middle of nowhere. But the food, the food! The food. Soooo yummy. All of the breakfast classics made bigger and better. Great corned beef hash. I'm pretty sure there is a 10 egg omelette. They also make a mean sandwich. The Cuban was the special the day we went and it was awesome! Definitely one of those novelty stops you go to half for the Instagram...but I would love to go back!
(5)Joe M.
Wasted my time! The place is TINY. The exterior and interior is disgusting. The reviews were good, so we were going ro suck it up and try them. We were a party of 6, and they didn't have a table. The server said it was only about a 15 minute wait and convinced us to wait for a table. A good amount of time passed and we saw several people leave. Guess what? She wasn't saving the tables for us to push together. As people left and new customers came in, she was just giving those tables away. A customer leaving told us this was happening also. Definitely AVIOD this place if you have more than 4 people in your party. This is poor business practice.
(1)Nathan F.
Review posted in error. :-(
(3)L P.
Ham-Bonz is a straightforward divey establishment. We were looking for basic breakfast, and we were not disappointed! I ordered the breakfast sandwich with bacon and it came off the flat top ripping hot. Their sourdough roll was a great balance of soft and crusty. Manfriend ordered biscuits and gravy, and it was some of the best gravy I've ever tasted. The bits of sausage were plentiful and it seemed like there was some sage or some other herb in the mix that kicked it up a notch. It seems like the omelets and meat breakfast meals came with a lot of extra items, but ours did not...which was fine because we were plenty filled up. Manfriend did order an egg on the side. As other reviews have mentioned, it is very tiny inside and do not try to come with a party larger than 4. There is no room to wait inside, but they try to turn tables quickly--we only waited maybe 10 mins. It was a little weird that there isn't a list; I guess the waitresses are just really great at remembering which faces came first. I'm not sure what others meant by "beware the waitress" because both of the ladies working this morning were great! We got out of there for under $20 which is a breakfast success in my book!
(5)John C.
Great little breakfast joint, if you like a lot of meat for breakfast (and who doesn't) this place is great. The porkbelly breakfast was great - Smokey flavored and cooked to perfection. It's what Bacon wants to be when it grows up ツ The Hog Wild breakfast will fill you up and keep you going all day. Good service makes this place worthy of 4 stars. For the 5th star I'd like better coffee, their coffee was okay but not as good as their breakfasts.
(4)John G.
Great local spot for breakfast. We stopped in based on the reviews after finding out that the original choice was permanently closed (FYI for anyone else trying to go to crow about it). It was a good detour though because the food here was pretty good. Staff was not the friendliest but effective. The place is tiny and when we asked to add a 5th seat to a table we got a look like we had two heads. But all in all it was a good enough spot to stop in for some breakfast. I had the special omelette which was very tasty and cooked well. My sister had the pancakes which were huge and she said they were scrumptious. Rest of the gang had standard breakfast fare and all was satisfactory. Give it a look.
(3)Will G.
Great little diner with fresh delicious food. Small so be prepared to wait a few minutes, but it's totally worth it. I highly recommend the "Smokey Bear" sandwich covered in there homemade hot sauce. Definitely a place I'll be visiting again when in TC.
(5)Tamara K.
Hate we found this late in our trip but it is a great breakfast spot!! The ham is unbelievable and hubby loved his pulled pork omelet!! Coffee was delicious and Amanda's service was the best!
(4)Suzy B.
Food was burnt when I got it. Not the best BBQ I've had.
(1)Anjanette T.
Our son lives here and serves in the USCG and recommended this as one of his favorite places. Just ate breakfast here---yum!! We had the pit ham hash with eggs and toast. Loved the true smoked flavor of the ham. The portion size was perfect. Meal was served fresh and hot. Place is tiny but clean inside. Don't miss this place!
(5)Daniel C.
The food here was pretty damn good - we actually ate here twice, once for breakfast and once to grab sandwiches to go. All the meats are terrific (no surprise there) and the Smokey Bear sandwich was great and lived up to its name (the smokey part...not the bear part). At breakfast, the pancakes were also really, really good and perfectly cooked. But, unfortunately, the waitress who was running the place (I get the impression she is probably the manager or related to the owner, or generally in charge of running the joint) was just a total nightmare of a person. Granted, it was a holiday weekend, but she was just incredibly shitty to everyone except the regulars in the restaurant. Visibly rolling her eyes at requests for things like syrup or napkins, throwing stuff down on the tables, and just generally being a pain in the ass. I have very thick skin and am not looking for Four Seasons-style service when going to a diner, but she just gave off a really negative vibe that definitely hurt our overall experience.
(3)Larry H.
Great food. Home town atmosphere. Will return the next time we are in TC. Very friendly and efficient waitress.
(5)Joseph C.
Holy Ham Goodness! This place definitely lives up to its advertisement as "Award winning BBQ" and "Home of TC'a famous pit meats!" Great food. Great service. Great hole-in-the-wall ambience. Today I tried the Pit Ham sandwich. Ham was cooked to perfection, full of flavor, but still juicy and tender (not overcooked, not dry). The buns are light, so they don't distract from the main attraction and the portions are large -- could easily share this sandwich or have some for later. (Granted, I ate the whole thing so that I can enjoy an afternoon coma/nap, but it could have been shared.) Fries were equally awesome and plentiful, and the service was fast, friendly and very good. This was my first visit, it will not be my last. ¡Vive la Ham Bonz!
(5)Mike G.
This is the Mid Western BBQ ive been looking for small, out of the way, inespensive and great tasting, an eatery must !!
(5)Kenny H.
Food is average, like any other breakfast joint just with tourist prices. Found a couple of hairs in the omelettes. Watch out for the waitress, she's vicious.
(1)Michele A.
Great old fashioned place. The ham is perfect every time. Breakfast is cheap big and tasty. They have great bread as well and treats for dogs.
(5)Kara H.
This place. Holy smokes. If you're a fan of meat, this is the place for you. We came here for breakfast today (8/24/15) and were impressed. The building is tiny and unassuming - to dine in, there is a handful of tables inside, and a couple outside. Take out business is busy - people were in and out the whole time we were eating. The restaurant to dine in was fairly empty when we arrived, but filled up right after we sat down. I stuck with standard breakfast fare - ham and cheese omelette with sourdough toast. The Ham is smokey, juicy and salty, snuggled into lightly cooked eggs and melty cheese. My husband ordered "The Whole Hog" - a skillet sans skillet, with ham, sausage, bacon, potatoes and cheese, covered in sausage gravy with your choice of eggs. To say these choices were delicious is a borderline understatement. Everything was perfectly done and came out ridiculously fast - I think from the time we ordered to the first bite was close to 5 minutes. The coffee is strong and hot - perfect for a breakfast like this. Do yourself a favor - if you're looking for a delicious, no nonsense breakfast, hightail it to Ham-Bonz.
(5)Gregorio Q.
Absolutely amazing! Service was perfect and the food was even better! Very reasonably priced!
(5)Chrystal M.
Looks like a dive. Don't let looks fool you. Friendly staff. Good diner food. Pit meats. All yum. Don't expect anything fancy like sugar alternatives. If you need that, bring your own. Small inside, only a few tables. Sunday morning crowd is sparse.
(5)Gabrielle W.
I tried Ham-Bonz for the first time today, figured it was about time since I've lived in TC 4+ years. I called and tried ordering the Huevos Rancheros, which the lady on the phone said they hadn't had for a while. The reason I left off a star is because they need to update the menu on their website. I work in an office, so I rely on whatever menu I can find to call in an order. I ordered my next choice, the Pit Turkey Club w/Bacon & Cheddar. Pick-up was easy, lots of parking, my food was ready when I got there, and the waitress/cashier was pleasant. The sandwich was delicious! It was also huge!! I opted for potato chips instead of coleslaw, as I read reviews that they have beans & corn in their coleslaw, which isn't up my alley. The cheese was good quality and gave so much flavor to the sandwich. The turkey wasn't too thick or hunky and just as tasty. And I never say no to bacon, which made this a fantastic club. I didn't think to ask for any packets of mayo / hot sauce, so I went without condiments and the sandwich stood fine on it's own. I would definitely eat from here again. Especially since it's fast, reasonably priced and right down the road from my work. I love sandwiches, so I'd love to try the pulled pork. And I'd also like to try the breakfast, cause I hear it's awesome.
(4)Karen L.
Small place, but the smoker in the back lets you know you are getting the real deal! It was hard to choose, so we might just come back tomorrow to try something else. Friendly service, great food, ample portions.
(4)David Z.
Excellent bbq ,split pea soup ,chicken strips with gravy. Are here on day one of trip. Returned in day two it was so good
(5)Brittany D.
Very small diner but good food. Walked in there are like 6 tables and the kitchen that's it! Some seating outside as well. Very good food, good price and good service!
(4)Bob R.
Stopped for takeout lunch on the way south from the Peninsula--really enjoyed our food. Delicious ham and an excellent Cuban. We will make a point of stopping here every visit to Traverse City now. Check it out!
(4)Michigan H.
The place won't jump out at you from the street. If you do see it, your first inclination will be to keep driving. Don't. The cheesy pink paint job and humble storefront is not indicative of the meal that awaits you. The menu is simple, and you can't go wrong with the sandwiches. My recommendation is to get the smokey bear: smoked ham, smoked bacon, melted cheese on a crusty roll of perfection. You simply won't find a better sandwich in Michigan. Maybe in your life. The place is small, tacky and the wait staff is usually not thrilled to have to be serving you. But the place is an absolute gem that I've been visiting for 5 years and will continue to patronize for many years to come.
(5)Amanda V.
Delicious! Great hole-in-the-wall joint. Get the breakfast sandwich with pulled pork!!
(5)Anna J.
Don't drive past it! Looks a little "home town" but worth going in! Pulled pork in an omelet?! Yes please! And the smoked pit ham was smokin'! Go for the whole wheat toast- you won't regret it.
(5)Mande B.
We've visited Ham Bonz now three times and have been more than happy each trip. Obviously the ham is delish.... But the corned beef hash is also a really tasty breakfast option. Be prepared to take some of your breakfast bounty home when visiting this wonderful TC spot! I will warn you - the seating is limited so don't be afraid to order takeout!
(5)Greg C.
This place is a must for anyone who loves smoky goodness is a sandwich. We had the smokey bear, the stacked ham, the pulled pork, and the stacked corned beef. They were all fantastic! It's a little deceiving when the sandwiches arrive with no condiments of any kind. We almost asked for spicy mustard, but don't do it. The smoked ham doesn't need anything, but the amazing bun that it comes in. The cole slaw is also very good. Corn, cabbage and just the right balance of sweet and heat. We will definitely come back every summer when we are in town.
(5)Kris F.
We drove in the parking lot and I said hummmmm I don't think so - my husband said "give it a shot" we did and we will be back!!!!!! The food was spectacular! This 6 table small BBQ eatery does it right. The hot sauce heats up and then fades on your tongue like no other! Kinda like you wanted hot - but I want you to taste the meat you ordered too! Coleslaw super!!! Fries tasty. Pit Ham - ohhhhhh myyyyy delicious!!!! Try it honest - the staff is sweet and friendly too!
(5)Dan M.
Holy enormous portions. My wife and I stopped in looking for a simple breakfast. I've heard the food was good here, but sweet baby Jesus, I had no idea the portions they give you would leave even Takeru Kobayashi with a belly ache. Wifey got a simple order of eggs, potatoes and toast. She barely finished it all. I had the pulled pork omelet with potatoes and toast. The omelet was really quite good, but I ended up leaving like half of it because there was just so much freaking food. Their hot sauce is really good too, I get the impression they make their own here. As for other tips besides bringing your competitive eater appetite, be aware there's not a lot of seating here. I think there was only about 6 tables inside and you're pretty darn close to the grill. We walked out smelling like we cooked the meal ourselves.
(4)Brian R.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is great. Had breakfast and the waitress was very friendly, explaining the favorites. I went with the Hog Wild... Ham, bacon, sausage over potatoes covered with cheese, sausage gravy & 2 eggs. Wow! Enough to take home. Also tried the homemade hot sauce which was spicy yet not too hot.
(5)Paul R.
I went with the pulled pork sandwich. It was really good and came out super fast. Don't let the outside of the building fool you. It's worth going to.
(4)Mike B.
We spent the night in TC and was looking for a place to grab some coffee and breakfast before heading to Gaylord to ski, used Yelp to find Ham Bonz. The reviews sold me, but even pulling I wondered if I made the right decision....I did. It was fantastic, the coffee was great and the food was even better. Give it a try, definitely worth it.
(5)Jim S.
Incredible hole in the wall find. The focus on quality ingredients is obvious. Not for the vegetarian but yet even their slaw and coffee are great. Great for breakfast or lunch. Cuban sandwich is awesome. Skip the chips as they are just a bag of Ruffles. Do NOT visit Traverse City without stopping here.
(5)Chris A.
Let me start by saying this is truly a dive restaurant. While sitting at one of the five tables you may feel as though you're in the kitchen. While the restaurant is decently ventilated, you will leave here smelling like grease and food smoke. All this being said my food, I ordered the Hog-Wild was good, nothing to out of this world. The kicker and why I gave it 3 stars is based on my girlfriends food. She ordered the BBQ pulled pork, it was absolutely terrible. It tasted like essentially like a manwich, but somehow worse. It was just the taste that was bad though, the meat was juicy and tender. They are completely ruining the good start they already had. If you decide to take the plunge into the next stop on restaurant impossible, stay with a breakfast food. I would keep searching though, there are plenty of other diners in town.
(3)Liz C.
Great food! Smaller space but seating available outside. Great way to start your day. Breakfast and lunch are a win.
(4)Anissa O.
This place is just the best in the city! It does have limited seating and if categorize it as a "whole in the wall" kind of place...but I find those have the best food!! Limited hours so get here and try it!!!
(5)Jenny A.
This place is SOOOOOO good! It looks a little scary outside, but don't let that deter you. A great meal awaits! The owner/cook even made some sausage links for my kids that sat at the bar. So nice! We will be back when we are in town.
(5)Jennifer B.
Great little dive restaurant! We stopped in for breaksfast on our way out of town after our hotel breakfast wasn't anything to try a second day in a row. The place is small but we were there pretty early on a Sunday and were the only couple there for a while. The waitress was fast and friendly. I got the french toast and you get 4 huge slices. My boyfriend got the "Hog Wild" and said it was delicious. Definitely a place I'd stop again!
(4)Braden A.
Everything is awesome here. Try the pit ham on your sandwiches and for lunch in substitution for their normal ham. The staff does a great job with timeliness and takes orders over the phone very well. I work next door, and have gotten busy after I've ordered and the staff has walked the sandwich over a few times. Great service! The taste of the food is unusually good. If you've never been here, do it! You'll keep going back.
(5)Amanda P.
Delicious! My favorite little gem in TC for breakfast! The waitress was attentive and my coffee was always hot.
(4)Michaela C.
At this point I love every food place... Great, but this place is really astonishing. Everyone in my family of four was EXTREMELY happy with their food. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was so huge and so packed with meat that I got full off of 1/4 of the sandwich and I got to enjoy it for lunch for four more days. It was truly delicious. I will definitely come back to this place every year I come back to Michigan!
(5)jennifer g.
This is a wonderful place for breakfast. The tiny diner is easy to get to and is very quick. The portions are large and fresh ingredients are used. The man minding the grill is friendly and quite talented. If you are looking for a good breakfast at a good price, this is the place to go. My friend had the pulled pork omelette and I had the 8th street omelet. Both were well made.
(5)Kavi P.
I'd say this place was 'ok'. I enjoyed the potatoes. The coffee was no good and there was no artificial sweeteners at hand. However, it served it's purpose for a quick breakfast spot.
(3)Anna S.
AWESOME little spot! You'd probably miss it if you drove by! I love small, divey places like this and this place hit the spot. Two friends got pulled pork sandwiches and they looked great - the pork is nicely shredded and has just enough tangy, vinegary sauce on it. Hubby had some sort of sandwich with ham, smoked turkey and bacon and he enjoyed it. I had the smothered chicken breast which was non-BBQ, but really good! It was fried chicken strips with HOMEMADE sausage gravy on them. SO good. The cole slaw that came with everyone's meal was homemade and GREAT. Also, the fried potatoes were fantastic. You gotta give it a shot!
(5)JonNDebby P.
I have driven by this place many times but thought it was only a take-out joint. Other Yelp reviewers set me straight. Space is limited, but we got in easily on a freezing, snowy Thursday morning. The food was amazing! My country omelette was covered in delicious homemade sausage gravy. My husband ordered the Hog Wild, which featured a bed of crispy fried cheese topped with eggs, ham, potatoes, and sausage gravy. Crispy cheese? Sooooo awesome. The wheat toast was real bread, not cheap bag bread. The waitress brought over some homemade hot sauce, which spiced up the sausage gravy--even better! I believe the cook and the waitress owned the place. They obviously care about the food and provide fast and friendly service. We will definitely be returning in the future.
(5)Leigh W.
Fantastic breakfast - it was exactly what we were craving. Tiny tiny little place, were there the Monday before xmas and things were quiet but filled up quite quickly after about 9 am. Great service - I had the "atkins omelet" with bacon, ham and sausage and my husband had the cubano sandwich, all excellent. It's worth seeking out (parking is behind the restaurant.)
(5)Brittany A.
Super small hole in the wall but tasty. Big portions. Nothing that will blow your away your palette, but you won't leave hungry.
(4)Nickie P.
Cuban sandwich = absolutely delicious. The only downside of delicious barbecue is that the place is small and the whole thing smells. To me, it smelled like stale frying oil, so I would suggest ordering your food to go if you can't deal with the scents. I would definitely go back for more bbq!
(4)Grant W.
Best place in TC for breakfast. We have been coming here for years to have breakfast when we are in town. Everything is quality homemade food, not the typical frozen food service type place. I love the homemade smoked meats, and sourdough bread. Give it a try you will be back for more.
(5)Dave M.
Don't let the divey exterior fool you, this place offers up some fantastic eats for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, I had the "hog wild", a plate piled with homemade fried potatoes, bacon, ham, scrambled eggs with sausage gravy, smothered in melted cheddar. Absolutely delicious, and a cure for anything bringing you down. On a subsequent visit, we stopped for lunch and I had the pulled pork sandwich. There's a smoker out back, which gets put to good use. The pork was flavorful, tender and juicy. Piled high on what almost looked like a brioche bun, the sandwich is served with twice fried french fries. Other items at our table included a Cuban sandwich and split pea soup which both received rave reviews.
(4)Jason C.
Locals told us about this place while we were hunting for a place to eat dinner... this place is very small, they have 3 tables that seat 2 ppl and 3 tables that seats 4 people... It's husband/wife operation... the husband does the cooking and the wife is the server. As I looked at the menu, wasn't sure what to get, then I checked out their specials and saw 'Whole Hog'... two strips of bacon, one sausage, ham, hash with pork gravy with eggs and a toast... $9 - easy decision. Then someone wanted to split the bbq pork sandwich, so I jumped in on that deal. Now, it's a small operation, so expect some time to get your food, especially if its crowded... The BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich came out first and man, the bun was crispy and the pulled pork was excellent, great combination... finished the half sandwich within two minutes!! The meat was tender, perfectly cooked, the sauce wasn't strong or weak, just perfect... next time I go, I'll get the whole sandwich for myself! The Whole Hog, well, it will fill you up for sure! The toast that it comes with is from a local bakery, very thick and excellent. The sausage and the bacon was great, the ham was little dry, but it was good. The pork gravy on top of the potatoes - YUM!!!! After consuming around 3000 calories, we had to depart for our next adventure... I would highly recommend their pulled pork bbq sandwich and the whole hog!
(4)Sue S.
We went here twice last week for breakfast, on the basis of Yelp comments. What a great place! Congenial staff and other customers, excellent food. My made-to-order hash was some of the best I've ever had, and my husband loved his ham and cheese omelet and home-made toast. Wish we had had time to try more meals here! Go! You won't be sorry!
(5)Adam M.
Amazingly good pulled pork! A must have! Thinking of something else? Stop that thought get the pulled pork. Delicious BBQ sauce and the most tender pork you'll ever eat in your life. We just missed closing time and they offered to stay open for us. You really can not beat how incredible this place is.
(5)Rick S.
Don,t let this small place stop you from the best breakfast any were. Great service try the whole hog of hog gone wild
(5)Kristin F.
So we came here around 7AM on a Saturday- I had some early morning things to do and we had some time to kill in-between. This was my first time ever entering the premises of what is Ham-Bonz... and I'm a native. Crazy. B insisted that it was a delicious diner, so we proceeded to have breakfast. I had always thought of it as a police trap (hence the name), so I never went. Silly me. We ordered breakfast- I got the veggie omelette special. Chuck full of vegetables- mushroom, onion, pepper, cheese, etc etc. Yum. I was only able to complete about 1/3 of it- for $4.99! Breakfast, lunch, and breakfast. I am now a believer.
(4)Nick W.
Definitely Traverse City's best kept secret!! I decided to stop in by myself before work for lunch on a Friday afternoon around 1pm. You seat your self but there is only about 6 tables to choose from or you can sit at the bar. The kitchen and cook is right at the bar so you can see your food being made. There was only two workers: the waitress and the cook. The waitress brought me my menu and got my drink. She gave me some time to look over the menu but I knew what I wanted from looking at other reviews. I ordered the pit ham sandwich with honey mustard with slaw. I got my meal in a timely manner. The portion was huge! A big sandwich and a generous amount of slaw. The slaw had corn and beans in it which I've never seen before but it was amazing! Order the slaw for your side. The pit ham sandwich was also very good!! Smoked flavor with honey mustard on a toasted bun was full of flavor!! I recommend it a lot!! The outside of the building is deceiving but the inside was nice and clean and welcoming. I liked how the kitchen was right there for you to see everything. Service and food was 5 out of 5 and you have to try it!! But don't go expecting a fancy upscale resteraunt. It is a very laid back, easy going place which I liked a lot. Go try it for yourself!!
(5)Brody U.
Best breakfast around. Staff is friendly and the prices are more than reasonable for the heaping plate of deliciousness you recieve! Gotta check it out.
(5)Dea A.
I love dive places and this is a dive placing trying to be a dive place... if you catch my drift. I wouldn't call this place cheap, but it was reasonable. The coffee kept coming, the wait staff was quick and pleasant, the eggs were done to perfection, and the ham was perfect.
(3)T S.
THE best ham sandwich I've ever eaten. Piping hot buttered bun, thick smoked ham and mustard. Simple and perfection. Bought it for my daughter and was so happy she wasn't hungry. Neither was I, for that matter, but I couldn't stop eating it. Food highlight of my visit to this city!
(5)Cindy L.
The corned beef hash breakfast is my favorite here ... So good that I get it every time I'm in TC and I can't order it anywhere else!
(5)Paul D.
After seeing the outside I was skeptical but when I made the plunge I would rate it the best breakfast I have ever had!
(5)sara k.
I've only ever ordered up the pulled pork bbq sandwich, but it's the house specialty. And it's good. The $8 price tag gets you an enormous sandwich that you have to cut in half with chips and a pickle. Service is so-so. Friendly enough, I guess. Yes, it is tiny, but seating is usually available at lunchtime, anyway. They call it TC's best kept secret. But why would you want your business to be a secret?
(3)Jenni M.
My cholesterol may never be the same, but this place was awesome. I had the "Hog Wild" - a mountain of potatoes, bacon, ham, cheddar, and sausage gravy. I left off the egg. It was so ridiculously delicious. Still, I barely ate half, so consider sharing this with a friend.
(4)Melissa L.
Every time I'm in Traverse City, I try to hit this place at least once for breakfast. Yes, it's small...yes, it's a dive....yes, the service is slightly slow as it is just a husband and wife team. BUT IT'S WORTH IT. I hate chain restaurants with a passion. Food at those places never turn out right. At Ham-Bonz, the cook never gets it wrong. YUM. HUGE portions. Great prices!
(4)Dennis K.
My wife and I split the Ham-Bonz special and were very satisfied. The corned beef was tasty. We added a side of biscuits and gravy. By far the best gravy I've eaten in a restuant in a long time. The waitress and the cook were really very friendly. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'd like to try some of the smoked meats that come out of that big smoker behind the building.
(4)Dave M.
A thorougly decadent grilled ham and cheese with thick cut tasty tender ham. It's a bit greasy but, hey, this place is a dive right? It's fun to watch the owner/ chef methodically cook at the grill. He's seems a little slow for a grill cook but his creations are worth the wait.
(4)Marcia C.
This is he BEST breakfast spot in town. I was there last week and had a fantastic Bare Bonz skillet. That means no ham, but it was cheesy goodness. Sliced potatoes, cheese, onions, fried in a skillet. The cheese was all crispy and fried around the edges and to die for. My daughter had the pancakes which seemed to be homemade with a generous dash of cinnamon. This place is very small, so you might have to wait for,a table. Or, better, yet order carry out. Portions are large.
(5)D. C.
I travel extensively for work and pleasure, and I always enjoy finding the little out of the way local places that always have the best food. I've passed this restaurant many times while in Traverse City. Each time I thought I should stop in. I finally did on 08-05-14 and am glad I did. A diamond in the rough. Small, plain, friendly, reasonably priced, and the food is awesome. 3 of us ordered the pork sandwich, a friend ordered the Cuban. Everyone was impressed. They have a breakfast plate that is ham, bacon, and sausage over potato's with biscuits and smothered with gravy. Next time!
(5)Wendy K.
I really enjoyed this place! It is a little off the beaten track of the Traverse City tourist spots (just by a block or two). The inside is tiny - when we arrived for breakfast every table was taken. A gentleman offered to let us share his table (isn't that nice?) but then we were told there was seating outside on the side of the building. We were the only ones on the patio, which was adorned with lots of pretty potted and hanging flowers. It was a great place to enjoy breakfast on a 70 degree morning. The woman who took our order was very nice and helpful (she may have been the owners?). I think she may have even been cooking the food, too. We ordered an omelette and corned beef hash. Everything was fabulous. The whole wheat toast was thick and tasty. The corn beef hash was homemade and probably the best I've ever had! I highly recommend it. Service was great and the food was even better. I love finding these out fo the way, local places!
(5)Wendy H.
Great place for BREAKFAST, or lunch. Gigantic portions and watch the chef cook. Have decent coffee ... But always fresh.
(5)Walter D.
This little dive has some of the best smoked meets in town. It also has a small, cozy atmosphere and the waitress is always friendly. There Cuban is to die for. I recommend the homemade hot sauce.
(5)John H.
Don't get the great reviews, ham was not that great. Pit had a good smoke flavor, ham seemed old.
(1)Dave M.
Ham-Bonz is definitely a down-home place. Compared to Frenchies Famous, it's roomy and well-kept. My companion and I ordered the veggie omelet, which turned out to be very old-school - eggs folded in a rectangular form around over-cooked vegetables and a dodgy cheese-like food. The coffee was totally forgettable. There was also a loud blower running, which made it hard to hear. The fried potatoes were well prepared, and the bacon was top-notch. The server was friendly and helpful.
(2)L P.
Ham-Bonz is a straightforward divey establishment. We were looking for basic breakfast, and we were not disappointed! I ordered the breakfast sandwich with bacon and it came off the flat top ripping hot. Their sourdough roll was a great balance of soft and crusty. Manfriend ordered biscuits and gravy, and it was some of the best gravy I've ever tasted. The bits of sausage were plentiful and it seemed like there was some sage or some other herb in the mix that kicked it up a notch. It seems like the omelets and meat breakfast meals came with a lot of extra items, but ours did not...which was fine because we were plenty filled up. Manfriend did order an egg on the side. As other reviews have mentioned, it is very tiny inside and do not try to come with a party larger than 4. There is no room to wait inside, but they try to turn tables quickly--we only waited maybe 10 mins. It was a little weird that there isn't a list; I guess the waitresses are just really great at remembering which faces came first. I'm not sure what others meant by "beware the waitress" because both of the ladies working this morning were great! We got out of there for under $20 which is a breakfast success in my book!
(5)Greg C.
This place is a must for anyone who loves smoky goodness is a sandwich. We had the smokey bear, the stacked ham, the pulled pork, and the stacked corned beef. They were all fantastic! It's a little deceiving when the sandwiches arrive with no condiments of any kind. We almost asked for spicy mustard, but don't do it. The smoked ham doesn't need anything, but the amazing bun that it comes in. The cole slaw is also very good. Corn, cabbage and just the right balance of sweet and heat. We will definitely come back every summer when we are in town.
(5)Mande B.
We've visited Ham Bonz now three times and have been more than happy each trip. Obviously the ham is delish.... But the corned beef hash is also a really tasty breakfast option. Be prepared to take some of your breakfast bounty home when visiting this wonderful TC spot! I will warn you - the seating is limited so don't be afraid to order takeout!
(5)Kris F.
We drove in the parking lot and I said hummmmm I don't think so - my husband said "give it a shot" we did and we will be back!!!!!! The food was spectacular! This 6 table small BBQ eatery does it right. The hot sauce heats up and then fades on your tongue like no other! Kinda like you wanted hot - but I want you to taste the meat you ordered too! Coleslaw super!!! Fries tasty. Pit Ham - ohhhhhh myyyyy delicious!!!! Try it honest - the staff is sweet and friendly too!
(5)Dan M.
Holy enormous portions. My wife and I stopped in looking for a simple breakfast. I've heard the food was good here, but sweet baby Jesus, I had no idea the portions they give you would leave even Takeru Kobayashi with a belly ache. Wifey got a simple order of eggs, potatoes and toast. She barely finished it all. I had the pulled pork omelet with potatoes and toast. The omelet was really quite good, but I ended up leaving like half of it because there was just so much freaking food. Their hot sauce is really good too, I get the impression they make their own here. As for other tips besides bringing your competitive eater appetite, be aware there's not a lot of seating here. I think there was only about 6 tables inside and you're pretty darn close to the grill. We walked out smelling like we cooked the meal ourselves.
(4)Brian R.
Looks like a hole in the wall but the food is great. Had breakfast and the waitress was very friendly, explaining the favorites. I went with the Hog Wild... Ham, bacon, sausage over potatoes covered with cheese, sausage gravy & 2 eggs. Wow! Enough to take home. Also tried the homemade hot sauce which was spicy yet not too hot.
(5)Paul R.
I went with the pulled pork sandwich. It was really good and came out super fast. Don't let the outside of the building fool you. It's worth going to.
(4)Kavi P.
I'd say this place was 'ok'. I enjoyed the potatoes. The coffee was no good and there was no artificial sweeteners at hand. However, it served it's purpose for a quick breakfast spot.
(3)Anna S.
AWESOME little spot! You'd probably miss it if you drove by! I love small, divey places like this and this place hit the spot. Two friends got pulled pork sandwiches and they looked great - the pork is nicely shredded and has just enough tangy, vinegary sauce on it. Hubby had some sort of sandwich with ham, smoked turkey and bacon and he enjoyed it. I had the smothered chicken breast which was non-BBQ, but really good! It was fried chicken strips with HOMEMADE sausage gravy on them. SO good. The cole slaw that came with everyone's meal was homemade and GREAT. Also, the fried potatoes were fantastic. You gotta give it a shot!
(5)JonNDebby P.
I have driven by this place many times but thought it was only a take-out joint. Other Yelp reviewers set me straight. Space is limited, but we got in easily on a freezing, snowy Thursday morning. The food was amazing! My country omelette was covered in delicious homemade sausage gravy. My husband ordered the Hog Wild, which featured a bed of crispy fried cheese topped with eggs, ham, potatoes, and sausage gravy. Crispy cheese? Sooooo awesome. The wheat toast was real bread, not cheap bag bread. The waitress brought over some homemade hot sauce, which spiced up the sausage gravy--even better! I believe the cook and the waitress owned the place. They obviously care about the food and provide fast and friendly service. We will definitely be returning in the future.
(5)Sara M.
This place should be on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives. It's certainly a dive. It's a tiny room with a couple of small tables, the opposite of luxurious. Like a diner you would expect to see on a highway in the middle of nowhere. But the food, the food! The food. Soooo yummy. All of the breakfast classics made bigger and better. Great corned beef hash. I'm pretty sure there is a 10 egg omelette. They also make a mean sandwich. The Cuban was the special the day we went and it was awesome! Definitely one of those novelty stops you go to half for the Instagram...but I would love to go back!
(5)Joe M.
Wasted my time! The place is TINY. The exterior and interior is disgusting. The reviews were good, so we were going ro suck it up and try them. We were a party of 6, and they didn't have a table. The server said it was only about a 15 minute wait and convinced us to wait for a table. A good amount of time passed and we saw several people leave. Guess what? She wasn't saving the tables for us to push together. As people left and new customers came in, she was just giving those tables away. A customer leaving told us this was happening also. Definitely AVIOD this place if you have more than 4 people in your party. This is poor business practice.
(1)Gabrielle W.
I tried Ham-Bonz for the first time today, figured it was about time since I've lived in TC 4+ years. I called and tried ordering the Huevos Rancheros, which the lady on the phone said they hadn't had for a while. The reason I left off a star is because they need to update the menu on their website. I work in an office, so I rely on whatever menu I can find to call in an order. I ordered my next choice, the Pit Turkey Club w/Bacon & Cheddar. Pick-up was easy, lots of parking, my food was ready when I got there, and the waitress/cashier was pleasant. The sandwich was delicious! It was also huge!! I opted for potato chips instead of coleslaw, as I read reviews that they have beans & corn in their coleslaw, which isn't up my alley. The cheese was good quality and gave so much flavor to the sandwich. The turkey wasn't too thick or hunky and just as tasty. And I never say no to bacon, which made this a fantastic club. I didn't think to ask for any packets of mayo / hot sauce, so I went without condiments and the sandwich stood fine on it's own. I would definitely eat from here again. Especially since it's fast, reasonably priced and right down the road from my work. I love sandwiches, so I'd love to try the pulled pork. And I'd also like to try the breakfast, cause I hear it's awesome.
(4)Karen L.
Small place, but the smoker in the back lets you know you are getting the real deal! It was hard to choose, so we might just come back tomorrow to try something else. Friendly service, great food, ample portions.
(4)David Z.
Excellent bbq ,split pea soup ,chicken strips with gravy. Are here on day one of trip. Returned in day two it was so good
(5)Brittany D.
Very small diner but good food. Walked in there are like 6 tables and the kitchen that's it! Some seating outside as well. Very good food, good price and good service!
(4)Bob R.
Stopped for takeout lunch on the way south from the Peninsula--really enjoyed our food. Delicious ham and an excellent Cuban. We will make a point of stopping here every visit to Traverse City now. Check it out!
(4)Michigan H.
The place won't jump out at you from the street. If you do see it, your first inclination will be to keep driving. Don't. The cheesy pink paint job and humble storefront is not indicative of the meal that awaits you. The menu is simple, and you can't go wrong with the sandwiches. My recommendation is to get the smokey bear: smoked ham, smoked bacon, melted cheese on a crusty roll of perfection. You simply won't find a better sandwich in Michigan. Maybe in your life. The place is small, tacky and the wait staff is usually not thrilled to have to be serving you. But the place is an absolute gem that I've been visiting for 5 years and will continue to patronize for many years to come.
(5)Amanda V.
Delicious! Great hole-in-the-wall joint. Get the breakfast sandwich with pulled pork!!
(5)Anna J.
Don't drive past it! Looks a little "home town" but worth going in! Pulled pork in an omelet?! Yes please! And the smoked pit ham was smokin'! Go for the whole wheat toast- you won't regret it.
(5)Chris A.
Let me start by saying this is truly a dive restaurant. While sitting at one of the five tables you may feel as though you're in the kitchen. While the restaurant is decently ventilated, you will leave here smelling like grease and food smoke. All this being said my food, I ordered the Hog-Wild was good, nothing to out of this world. The kicker and why I gave it 3 stars is based on my girlfriends food. She ordered the BBQ pulled pork, it was absolutely terrible. It tasted like essentially like a manwich, but somehow worse. It was just the taste that was bad though, the meat was juicy and tender. They are completely ruining the good start they already had. If you decide to take the plunge into the next stop on restaurant impossible, stay with a breakfast food. I would keep searching though, there are plenty of other diners in town.
(3)Liz C.
Great food! Smaller space but seating available outside. Great way to start your day. Breakfast and lunch are a win.
(4)Anissa O.
This place is just the best in the city! It does have limited seating and if categorize it as a "whole in the wall" kind of place...but I find those have the best food!! Limited hours so get here and try it!!!
(5)Jenny A.
This place is SOOOOOO good! It looks a little scary outside, but don't let that deter you. A great meal awaits! The owner/cook even made some sausage links for my kids that sat at the bar. So nice! We will be back when we are in town.
(5)Dave M.
Ham-Bonz is definitely a down-home place. Compared to Frenchies Famous, it's roomy and well-kept. My companion and I ordered the veggie omelet, which turned out to be very old-school - eggs folded in a rectangular form around over-cooked vegetables and a dodgy cheese-like food. The coffee was totally forgettable. There was also a loud blower running, which made it hard to hear. The fried potatoes were well prepared, and the bacon was top-notch. The server was friendly and helpful.
(2)Nathan F.
Review posted in error. :-(
(3)John C.
Great little breakfast joint, if you like a lot of meat for breakfast (and who doesn't) this place is great. The porkbelly breakfast was great - Smokey flavored and cooked to perfection. It's what Bacon wants to be when it grows up ツ The Hog Wild breakfast will fill you up and keep you going all day. Good service makes this place worthy of 4 stars. For the 5th star I'd like better coffee, their coffee was okay but not as good as their breakfasts.
(4)John G.
Great local spot for breakfast. We stopped in based on the reviews after finding out that the original choice was permanently closed (FYI for anyone else trying to go to crow about it). It was a good detour though because the food here was pretty good. Staff was not the friendliest but effective. The place is tiny and when we asked to add a 5th seat to a table we got a look like we had two heads. But all in all it was a good enough spot to stop in for some breakfast. I had the special omelette which was very tasty and cooked well. My sister had the pancakes which were huge and she said they were scrumptious. Rest of the gang had standard breakfast fare and all was satisfactory. Give it a look.
(3)Will G.
Great little diner with fresh delicious food. Small so be prepared to wait a few minutes, but it's totally worth it. I highly recommend the "Smokey Bear" sandwich covered in there homemade hot sauce. Definitely a place I'll be visiting again when in TC.
(5)Tamara K.
Hate we found this late in our trip but it is a great breakfast spot!! The ham is unbelievable and hubby loved his pulled pork omelet!! Coffee was delicious and Amanda's service was the best!
(4)Suzy B.
Food was burnt when I got it. Not the best BBQ I've had.
(1)Anjanette T.
Our son lives here and serves in the USCG and recommended this as one of his favorite places. Just ate breakfast here---yum!! We had the pit ham hash with eggs and toast. Loved the true smoked flavor of the ham. The portion size was perfect. Meal was served fresh and hot. Place is tiny but clean inside. Don't miss this place!
(5)Daniel C.
The food here was pretty damn good - we actually ate here twice, once for breakfast and once to grab sandwiches to go. All the meats are terrific (no surprise there) and the Smokey Bear sandwich was great and lived up to its name (the smokey part...not the bear part). At breakfast, the pancakes were also really, really good and perfectly cooked. But, unfortunately, the waitress who was running the place (I get the impression she is probably the manager or related to the owner, or generally in charge of running the joint) was just a total nightmare of a person. Granted, it was a holiday weekend, but she was just incredibly shitty to everyone except the regulars in the restaurant. Visibly rolling her eyes at requests for things like syrup or napkins, throwing stuff down on the tables, and just generally being a pain in the ass. I have very thick skin and am not looking for Four Seasons-style service when going to a diner, but she just gave off a really negative vibe that definitely hurt our overall experience.
(3)Larry H.
Great food. Home town atmosphere. Will return the next time we are in TC. Very friendly and efficient waitress.
(5)Ian B.
Good breakfast! It's true what others are writing, the ham is pretty damn good. The pancakes my daughter ordered were excellent. My wife had the Cuban sandwich, which wasn't served on the 'traditional' (for Cubanos) french bread (e.g. pan criollo), but it was excellent. She raved about the french fries. I had the pork belly, eggs & potatoes. The pork belly was AWESOME and smoked to perfection. The eggs were just right. While I prefer my potatoes (fried/breakfast) a little less crispy, they were tasty. They have a homemade hot sauce that is just flavorful (not really hot - to my taste). We enjoyed it so much that we grabbed a pulled pork sandwich to go so we could keep living the smoky goodness experience later into the day. The service was excellent (poor server, she was rockin'!). The joint is small, but charming and intimate. We were fortunate to arrive JUST in time to grab a table big enough for the three of us - there are only a few four tops. Good smoke!
(4)Joseph C.
Holy Ham Goodness! This place definitely lives up to its advertisement as "Award winning BBQ" and "Home of TC'a famous pit meats!" Great food. Great service. Great hole-in-the-wall ambience. Today I tried the Pit Ham sandwich. Ham was cooked to perfection, full of flavor, but still juicy and tender (not overcooked, not dry). The buns are light, so they don't distract from the main attraction and the portions are large -- could easily share this sandwich or have some for later. (Granted, I ate the whole thing so that I can enjoy an afternoon coma/nap, but it could have been shared.) Fries were equally awesome and plentiful, and the service was fast, friendly and very good. This was my first visit, it will not be my last. ¡Vive la Ham Bonz!
(5)Mike G.
This is the Mid Western BBQ ive been looking for small, out of the way, inespensive and great tasting, an eatery must !!
(5)Kenny H.
Food is average, like any other breakfast joint just with tourist prices. Found a couple of hairs in the omelettes. Watch out for the waitress, she's vicious.
(1)Michele A.
Great old fashioned place. The ham is perfect every time. Breakfast is cheap big and tasty. They have great bread as well and treats for dogs.
(5)Kara H.
This place. Holy smokes. If you're a fan of meat, this is the place for you. We came here for breakfast today (8/24/15) and were impressed. The building is tiny and unassuming - to dine in, there is a handful of tables inside, and a couple outside. Take out business is busy - people were in and out the whole time we were eating. The restaurant to dine in was fairly empty when we arrived, but filled up right after we sat down. I stuck with standard breakfast fare - ham and cheese omelette with sourdough toast. The Ham is smokey, juicy and salty, snuggled into lightly cooked eggs and melty cheese. My husband ordered "The Whole Hog" - a skillet sans skillet, with ham, sausage, bacon, potatoes and cheese, covered in sausage gravy with your choice of eggs. To say these choices were delicious is a borderline understatement. Everything was perfectly done and came out ridiculously fast - I think from the time we ordered to the first bite was close to 5 minutes. The coffee is strong and hot - perfect for a breakfast like this. Do yourself a favor - if you're looking for a delicious, no nonsense breakfast, hightail it to Ham-Bonz.
(5)Gregorio Q.
Absolutely amazing! Service was perfect and the food was even better! Very reasonably priced!
(5)Chrystal M.
Looks like a dive. Don't let looks fool you. Friendly staff. Good diner food. Pit meats. All yum. Don't expect anything fancy like sugar alternatives. If you need that, bring your own. Small inside, only a few tables. Sunday morning crowd is sparse.
(5)Jennifer B.
Great little dive restaurant! We stopped in for breaksfast on our way out of town after our hotel breakfast wasn't anything to try a second day in a row. The place is small but we were there pretty early on a Sunday and were the only couple there for a while. The waitress was fast and friendly. I got the french toast and you get 4 huge slices. My boyfriend got the "Hog Wild" and said it was delicious. Definitely a place I'd stop again!
(4)Braden A.
Everything is awesome here. Try the pit ham on your sandwiches and for lunch in substitution for their normal ham. The staff does a great job with timeliness and takes orders over the phone very well. I work next door, and have gotten busy after I've ordered and the staff has walked the sandwich over a few times. Great service! The taste of the food is unusually good. If you've never been here, do it! You'll keep going back.
(5)Amanda P.
Delicious! My favorite little gem in TC for breakfast! The waitress was attentive and my coffee was always hot.
(4)Mike B.
We spent the night in TC and was looking for a place to grab some coffee and breakfast before heading to Gaylord to ski, used Yelp to find Ham Bonz. The reviews sold me, but even pulling I wondered if I made the right decision....I did. It was fantastic, the coffee was great and the food was even better. Give it a try, definitely worth it.
(5)Jim S.
Incredible hole in the wall find. The focus on quality ingredients is obvious. Not for the vegetarian but yet even their slaw and coffee are great. Great for breakfast or lunch. Cuban sandwich is awesome. Skip the chips as they are just a bag of Ruffles. Do NOT visit Traverse City without stopping here.
(5)Michaela C.
At this point I love every food place... Great, but this place is really astonishing. Everyone in my family of four was EXTREMELY happy with their food. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was so huge and so packed with meat that I got full off of 1/4 of the sandwich and I got to enjoy it for lunch for four more days. It was truly delicious. I will definitely come back to this place every year I come back to Michigan!
(5)jennifer g.
This is a wonderful place for breakfast. The tiny diner is easy to get to and is very quick. The portions are large and fresh ingredients are used. The man minding the grill is friendly and quite talented. If you are looking for a good breakfast at a good price, this is the place to go. My friend had the pulled pork omelette and I had the 8th street omelet. Both were well made.
(5)Brittany A.
Super small hole in the wall but tasty. Big portions. Nothing that will blow your away your palette, but you won't leave hungry.
(4)Marcia C.
This is he BEST breakfast spot in town. I was there last week and had a fantastic Bare Bonz skillet. That means no ham, but it was cheesy goodness. Sliced potatoes, cheese, onions, fried in a skillet. The cheese was all crispy and fried around the edges and to die for. My daughter had the pancakes which seemed to be homemade with a generous dash of cinnamon. This place is very small, so you might have to wait for,a table. Or, better, yet order carry out. Portions are large.
(5)D. C.
I travel extensively for work and pleasure, and I always enjoy finding the little out of the way local places that always have the best food. I've passed this restaurant many times while in Traverse City. Each time I thought I should stop in. I finally did on 08-05-14 and am glad I did. A diamond in the rough. Small, plain, friendly, reasonably priced, and the food is awesome. 3 of us ordered the pork sandwich, a friend ordered the Cuban. Everyone was impressed. They have a breakfast plate that is ham, bacon, and sausage over potato's with biscuits and smothered with gravy. Next time!
(5)Wendy K.
I really enjoyed this place! It is a little off the beaten track of the Traverse City tourist spots (just by a block or two). The inside is tiny - when we arrived for breakfast every table was taken. A gentleman offered to let us share his table (isn't that nice?) but then we were told there was seating outside on the side of the building. We were the only ones on the patio, which was adorned with lots of pretty potted and hanging flowers. It was a great place to enjoy breakfast on a 70 degree morning. The woman who took our order was very nice and helpful (she may have been the owners?). I think she may have even been cooking the food, too. We ordered an omelette and corned beef hash. Everything was fabulous. The whole wheat toast was thick and tasty. The corn beef hash was homemade and probably the best I've ever had! I highly recommend it. Service was great and the food was even better. I love finding these out fo the way, local places!
(5)Wendy H.
Great place for BREAKFAST, or lunch. Gigantic portions and watch the chef cook. Have decent coffee ... But always fresh.
(5)Walter D.
This little dive has some of the best smoked meets in town. It also has a small, cozy atmosphere and the waitress is always friendly. There Cuban is to die for. I recommend the homemade hot sauce.
(5)John H.
Don't get the great reviews, ham was not that great. Pit had a good smoke flavor, ham seemed old.
(1)Melissa L.
Every time I'm in Traverse City, I try to hit this place at least once for breakfast. Yes, it's small...yes, it's a dive....yes, the service is slightly slow as it is just a husband and wife team. BUT IT'S WORTH IT. I hate chain restaurants with a passion. Food at those places never turn out right. At Ham-Bonz, the cook never gets it wrong. YUM. HUGE portions. Great prices!
(4)Dennis K.
My wife and I split the Ham-Bonz special and were very satisfied. The corned beef was tasty. We added a side of biscuits and gravy. By far the best gravy I've eaten in a restuant in a long time. The waitress and the cook were really very friendly. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'd like to try some of the smoked meats that come out of that big smoker behind the building.
(4)Leigh W.
Fantastic breakfast - it was exactly what we were craving. Tiny tiny little place, were there the Monday before xmas and things were quiet but filled up quite quickly after about 9 am. Great service - I had the "atkins omelet" with bacon, ham and sausage and my husband had the cubano sandwich, all excellent. It's worth seeking out (parking is behind the restaurant.)
(5)Nickie P.
Cuban sandwich = absolutely delicious. The only downside of delicious barbecue is that the place is small and the whole thing smells. To me, it smelled like stale frying oil, so I would suggest ordering your food to go if you can't deal with the scents. I would definitely go back for more bbq!
(4)Grant W.
Best place in TC for breakfast. We have been coming here for years to have breakfast when we are in town. Everything is quality homemade food, not the typical frozen food service type place. I love the homemade smoked meats, and sourdough bread. Give it a try you will be back for more.
(5)Dave M.
Don't let the divey exterior fool you, this place offers up some fantastic eats for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, I had the "hog wild", a plate piled with homemade fried potatoes, bacon, ham, scrambled eggs with sausage gravy, smothered in melted cheddar. Absolutely delicious, and a cure for anything bringing you down. On a subsequent visit, we stopped for lunch and I had the pulled pork sandwich. There's a smoker out back, which gets put to good use. The pork was flavorful, tender and juicy. Piled high on what almost looked like a brioche bun, the sandwich is served with twice fried french fries. Other items at our table included a Cuban sandwich and split pea soup which both received rave reviews.
(4)Jason C.
Locals told us about this place while we were hunting for a place to eat dinner... this place is very small, they have 3 tables that seat 2 ppl and 3 tables that seats 4 people... It's husband/wife operation... the husband does the cooking and the wife is the server. As I looked at the menu, wasn't sure what to get, then I checked out their specials and saw 'Whole Hog'... two strips of bacon, one sausage, ham, hash with pork gravy with eggs and a toast... $9 - easy decision. Then someone wanted to split the bbq pork sandwich, so I jumped in on that deal. Now, it's a small operation, so expect some time to get your food, especially if its crowded... The BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich came out first and man, the bun was crispy and the pulled pork was excellent, great combination... finished the half sandwich within two minutes!! The meat was tender, perfectly cooked, the sauce wasn't strong or weak, just perfect... next time I go, I'll get the whole sandwich for myself! The Whole Hog, well, it will fill you up for sure! The toast that it comes with is from a local bakery, very thick and excellent. The sausage and the bacon was great, the ham was little dry, but it was good. The pork gravy on top of the potatoes - YUM!!!! After consuming around 3000 calories, we had to depart for our next adventure... I would highly recommend their pulled pork bbq sandwich and the whole hog!
(4)Sue S.
We went here twice last week for breakfast, on the basis of Yelp comments. What a great place! Congenial staff and other customers, excellent food. My made-to-order hash was some of the best I've ever had, and my husband loved his ham and cheese omelet and home-made toast. Wish we had had time to try more meals here! Go! You won't be sorry!
(5)Adam M.
Amazingly good pulled pork! A must have! Thinking of something else? Stop that thought get the pulled pork. Delicious BBQ sauce and the most tender pork you'll ever eat in your life. We just missed closing time and they offered to stay open for us. You really can not beat how incredible this place is.
(5)Rick S.
Don,t let this small place stop you from the best breakfast any were. Great service try the whole hog of hog gone wild
(5)Kristin F.
So we came here around 7AM on a Saturday- I had some early morning things to do and we had some time to kill in-between. This was my first time ever entering the premises of what is Ham-Bonz... and I'm a native. Crazy. B insisted that it was a delicious diner, so we proceeded to have breakfast. I had always thought of it as a police trap (hence the name), so I never went. Silly me. We ordered breakfast- I got the veggie omelette special. Chuck full of vegetables- mushroom, onion, pepper, cheese, etc etc. Yum. I was only able to complete about 1/3 of it- for $4.99! Breakfast, lunch, and breakfast. I am now a believer.
(4)Nick W.
Definitely Traverse City's best kept secret!! I decided to stop in by myself before work for lunch on a Friday afternoon around 1pm. You seat your self but there is only about 6 tables to choose from or you can sit at the bar. The kitchen and cook is right at the bar so you can see your food being made. There was only two workers: the waitress and the cook. The waitress brought me my menu and got my drink. She gave me some time to look over the menu but I knew what I wanted from looking at other reviews. I ordered the pit ham sandwich with honey mustard with slaw. I got my meal in a timely manner. The portion was huge! A big sandwich and a generous amount of slaw. The slaw had corn and beans in it which I've never seen before but it was amazing! Order the slaw for your side. The pit ham sandwich was also very good!! Smoked flavor with honey mustard on a toasted bun was full of flavor!! I recommend it a lot!! The outside of the building is deceiving but the inside was nice and clean and welcoming. I liked how the kitchen was right there for you to see everything. Service and food was 5 out of 5 and you have to try it!! But don't go expecting a fancy upscale resteraunt. It is a very laid back, easy going place which I liked a lot. Go try it for yourself!!
(5)Brody U.
Best breakfast around. Staff is friendly and the prices are more than reasonable for the heaping plate of deliciousness you recieve! Gotta check it out.
(5)Dea A.
I love dive places and this is a dive placing trying to be a dive place... if you catch my drift. I wouldn't call this place cheap, but it was reasonable. The coffee kept coming, the wait staff was quick and pleasant, the eggs were done to perfection, and the ham was perfect.
(3)T S.
THE best ham sandwich I've ever eaten. Piping hot buttered bun, thick smoked ham and mustard. Simple and perfection. Bought it for my daughter and was so happy she wasn't hungry. Neither was I, for that matter, but I couldn't stop eating it. Food highlight of my visit to this city!
(5)Cindy L.
The corned beef hash breakfast is my favorite here ... So good that I get it every time I'm in TC and I can't order it anywhere else!
(5)Paul D.
After seeing the outside I was skeptical but when I made the plunge I would rate it the best breakfast I have ever had!
(5)sara k.
I've only ever ordered up the pulled pork bbq sandwich, but it's the house specialty. And it's good. The $8 price tag gets you an enormous sandwich that you have to cut in half with chips and a pickle. Service is so-so. Friendly enough, I guess. Yes, it is tiny, but seating is usually available at lunchtime, anyway. They call it TC's best kept secret. But why would you want your business to be a secret?
(3)Jenni M.
My cholesterol may never be the same, but this place was awesome. I had the "Hog Wild" - a mountain of potatoes, bacon, ham, cheddar, and sausage gravy. I left off the egg. It was so ridiculously delicious. Still, I barely ate half, so consider sharing this with a friend.
(4)Dave M.
A thorougly decadent grilled ham and cheese with thick cut tasty tender ham. It's a bit greasy but, hey, this place is a dive right? It's fun to watch the owner/ chef methodically cook at the grill. He's seems a little slow for a grill cook but his creations are worth the wait.
(4)