SHIRLEY'S DINER

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑

Classic diner and breakfast fare

Perfect For: Breakfast/Brunch; Casual Dining; Lunch

Standout Dishes: Reuben; Onion Rings; Monterey Omelette

The concept of the all-day diner has faded into, mostly, a thing of the past. These days, most restaurants pick a lane, sticking to AM or PM food. Finding a menu pancakes and omelettes alongside spaghetti and fish and chips is nearly unheard of.

Unless, that is, you’re at Shirley’s Diner, where your options aren’t limited by the time of your visit. Want to have a pork tenderloin sandwich for breakfast? No worries. Care for chicken and waffles to close out your day? Knock yourself out.

That’s part of the charm at Shirley’s, the Omaha diner that combines the decor, Southern hospitality, and ordering options of the past with a menu that offers modernized versions of classic dishes.

Located off 144th & Q, Shirley’s has helped Omahans get their diner fix for more than 3 decades. The space is open and well-lit, inviting diners to stay and enjoy themselves. Huge plate glass windows allow light to fill the room, but the piece of decor that sums up Shirley’s the most might be its least expensive. In the corner of the restaurant is a Fisher Price kitchen, creating a fun space for kids to play while they wait for their meals to arrive.

Shirley’s cares about its customers, and that hospitality is shown both in attitude and in food.

The menu features hearty homestyle food in enormous proportions with a Southern lean. All the breakfast classics—biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, Western omelette—are present, but some have tweaks that bring them into modern times. For instance, the Monte Cristo is drizzled with a decadent raspberry sauce. The Sunrise Benedict comes with sausage patties and scrambled eggs smothered in sausage cream gravy. And the Irish Omelette is stuffed with corned beef and Swiss cheese.

One diner classic that needs no updating is the Buttermilk Pancakes, a plate of 2 or 3 (your choice) UFO-sized flapjacks ready to challenge the heartiest of appetites. These pancakes are dense and cake-like, giving you a stick-to-your-ribs feeling. They have a crisp outer shell from their time on the griddle, and the flavor is buttery and subtly sweet. You don’t need additional sugar to enjoy this stack, but if you want some syrup, Shirley’s serves some of the highest quality that I’ve found in Omaha.

The omelettes can be as standard or innovative as you prefer. There are the simple ham and cheese and veggie options, but there’s also one with pulled pork and smothered in queso and chipotle cream. The Monterey Omelette brings in an unexpected addition: tater tots. These mini salt bombs are a perfect crunch to the soft, creamy egg, accented by crispy bacon, melty cheese, and avocado. It’s a bit overloaded with tomatoes, but that’s a small complaint.

The Breakfast Burrito is about the size of a football, as this rolled tortilla is absolutely stuffed with eggs, pulled pork, cheese, and veggies, all before being slathered in sour cream, queso, and avocado cream. When it first arrives, you’ll think there’s no way you’ll be able to finish it, but it’s so delicious, it’s hard to stop feasting.

Whatever you order for breakfast, a side of hash browns is a good idea. The giant bed of potato is perfectly crispy, though they tend to need a bit more salt added at the table.

The dinner options include salads and a wide selection of burgers and sandwiches, as well as classic diner fare such as livers and onions, fried catfish, and hamburger steak. With a menu this long and varied, if you can’t find something you like, that’s your fault.

Lovers of a good Reuben sandwich simply must try Shirley’s take. The corned beef is spiced very well, bursting forth with a hearty, meaty flavor. Melty Swiss oozes out of every crevice of the sandwich, and while some might find the 1000 island dressing to be a bit sweet, it balances all the salt from the meat and cheese well. The bread is buttered could use a bit more toasting to achieve that perfect crisp. Still, this is one of Omaha’s best Reubens.

Shirley’s Onion Rings are the go-to side, as these massive crispy rings are hand-battered and buttermilk-fried, giving them a shatter texture on the outside. They too are a bit underseasoned, but it’s nothing a few shakes of salt can’t cure.

The original owners, Denise and Doug Fackler, were musicians, and you’ll find the walls covered with photos and memorabilia from their former careers. They also wanted to create a 1950s and 60s vibe, and old license plates, figurines, and photos of celebrities from that era take you back in time.

You’ll be treated with care at Shirley’s though the expediting system and enormous crowds can lead to longer wait times, especially during brunch on the weekends. But if you don’t mind waiting a bit longer for a massive platter of some of Omaha’s best diner food, you’re going to find it’s worth it.