BAILEY'S
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★⭑
District: Southwest Omaha
Classic Breakfast & Brunch
Perfect For: Breakfast/Brunch; Casual Dining; Lunch; Vegan Options
Standout Dishes: Porkasaurus; Corned Beef Hash
At some restaurants, there’s a specific dish that becomes the stuff of legend. At Block 16, it’s the Croque Garcon, a burger that drew glowing reviews from Food Network‘s Alton Brown. At Porky Butts BBQ, it’s the dinosaurus-sized beef rib, which sells out every time it’s offered as a special.
Then there’s Bailey’s, a tiny diner near 120th and Pacific. While it’s generally loved for its friendly service and well-cooked breakfast food, what makes this place stand out is its challenge: a mountain of breakfast delicacies so massive it earned a prehistoric nickname, the Porkasaurus.
This monstrous plate (pictured in the header photo) is comprised of bacon, sausage patties and links, Canadian bacon, multiple ham steaks, and Andouille sausage, all loaded on top of a spread of red taters with Jack and cheddar cheese. The meal is topped off three eggs, plus a buttered biscuit and four slices of toast. It’s so legendary, it brought the TV show Man Vs. Food to Omaha to take it on.
In other words, bring your appetite. Or else.
We’ll get to the Porkasaurus in a minute. Because while its well known, most guests aren’t going to start their day with a 3-pound plate of breakfast food. And that’s the good news: there’s plenty of delicious plates to find here that are a bit more manageable.
Bailey’s menu is wide-ranging and creative. You’ll find various omelets, eggs Benedicts, sandwiches, pancakes, and more that draw inspiration from Creole, Mexican, and Southern influences. You’ll find omelets studded with shrimp and andouille sausage, sweet corn cakes with eggs and bacon, a Benedict with cold-smoked salmon.
Bailey’s has a very cozy vibe to it, absolutely perfect for the brunch crowd. The staff are all extremely helpful and friendly, and the service is pretty quick.
But it’s a small restaurant, and waits during peak brunch hours can be upwards of 45 minutes. Get there early or be prepared to wait—which if you do, that’s OK. It’s worth it.
The Corned Beef Hash is one of the best dishes on the menu. The corned beef, which is cured for three days before being smoked over pecan wood, is divine. It’s the perfect combination of salt and fat, and the bed of roasted red potatoes provide the right starch to balance all the meat. The meal comes with two eggs served any style, and I’d advise sunny-side-up. The yolk spreads throughout the plate, binding the meat, potatoes, and sauteed onions into a beautifully composed dish.
The Bagelwich is a very solid option for breakfast sandwich lovers. Though the scrambled eggs can be a bit rubbery, they have nice cheddar flavor. And the thick cut bacon and fantastic everything bagel from Bagel Bin make up for the dry eggs.
The eggs in the omelets are much better cooked, creamy with a slight crisp on the outside. They’re loaded with ingredients; the Denver Omelet is filled with smoky ham, crunchy green peppers and sauteed onions, and tender mushrooms.
The Creole Shrimp Stack. highlights Bailey’s partnership with Absolutely Fresh seafood, the company that sources the brilliant Shuck’s Fish House. The dish tops a bed of perfectly crispy hash browns with blackened shrimp, andouille sausage, green peppers, tomatoes, and onions. The shrimp are perfectly tender and add a solid kick of heat that ramps up the starchy potatoes. The sausage adds some brilliant spice and flavor, while the veggies bring freshness. A dash of cheese helps bring everything together, as do two sunny-side-up eggs.
The Pancakes are a bit flat and tough, though they can be salvaged by adding the proper amount of syrup.
Now let’s get back to the Porkasaurus.
It’s a daunting foe, to be sure. The plates combined were easily 2-3 pounds, but the pursuit of glory (and an awesome T-shirt) were enough to inspire me. To be honest, I didn’t struggle too much with this challenge because everything was delicious. The meats are all perfectly cooked. The potatoes and eggs provide a nice contrast to all the protein, and the biscuit and toast allow you to create a few awesome breakfast sandwiches and steer clear of the dreaded starch wall.
I downed the monster in 18 minutes, aided by the sheer flavor of the meal and the desire to finish before my stomach realized how full it was. Every bite was a mini-masterpiece, though I didn’t eat for the next 24+ hours. Turns out two plates of meat and starch can be a bit filling.
Don’t take this challenge, lightly. The host of Man Vs. Food, Casey Webb, actually failed the challenge in 2019. It’s truly a beast.
Whether or not you’re crazy (stupid?) enough to take on the Porkasaurus, Bailey’s is well worth a visit.
And if you’re looking for a challenge, the chance to topple a wall of delicious meat, try your hand against the Porkasaurus. But bring your appetite, and then some. You’re going to need it.