PK Diner

My fiancé and I stopped in here for a late breakfast today and had an amazing experience from start to finish! I travel the country for work and am fortunate to be able to eat a lot of great food in the process. It was awesome to find such a gem close to home.
We got a great introduction to the restaurant after answering that it was our first visit. The tip and tax is included in their prices. I can only assume that this is true because they are paying their people a decent wage. For that they get 2 thumbs up. All of the people that we encountered were extremely nice, friendly and attentive. They clearly enjoyed their jobs which is a delight for me that I don’t always get even if the food is great.
My fiancé struggled to figure out what she wanted to drink because they had a pretty extensive list of craft sodas. Not a bad problem to have. Lol. Eventually the waitress offered to make a selection for her. Ski was the first one. She loved it. It was like Mountain Dew but so much better. She eventually had them spin the wheel of luck again. She came up with Dang! That’s good. Red cream soda. That was even better! Better than Jones cream soda and I hold that one pretty high.
Food– They give you complimentary biscuits on the weekends with grape jelly and some sort of sweet honey butter. If you can make something that simple that delicious you’re definitely doing something right.
We both chose the sun burn fryjack. I added their house made chorizo. The came out looking amazing and tasted even better! The layers of flavors all complimented each other perfectly. We also had the pk potatoes with them. There’s a reason they put their name on those things. Oh. So. Delicious! A mixture of regular and sweet potatoes with perfectly cooked onions. They put any other breakfast potatoes to shame. They were loaded with flavor instead of grease.
Towards the end the waitress asked us if we liked cinnamon and sugar. My fiancé came back with her usual smart mouth– Who doesn’t?! Lol. A little while later she appeared with some complimentary (because we were so much fun they said) little triangles of heaven. I’m not sure what they were technically. They looked like they took the base of the fryjacks then sprinkled them with cinnamon, sugar and a little bit of powered sugar. Then they added a nice heap of home made whipped cream with chocolate chips to the plate. Melt in your mouth amazing. I could have died happy at that point.
They offered me a coffee to go. Although I declined the offer I definitely appreciated the idea. We were so happy with the experience! We can’t wait to go back, eat some more great food and try some more sodas.

This is a must go to if you are ever in the Rockford area. I’m not, but I want to come back JUST FOR THIS PLACE. What a find.
We stopped for lunch on our way to Galena for the 4^th of July weekend. We Unilocaled, found it, went with it. Didn’t realize it was BEHIND us, so we drove a bit back. Was a little annoyed, but whatever.
In the middle of a strip mall. Totally random. Thought it was closed, no cars. Wasn’t sure what to think. But when we walked in, we knew we just stumbled on a GREAT place.
Everyone was super nice and friendly. We sat down right away; I guess we had come just after the rush. Our waiter was named Matt I believe and he was so nice. Explained what they do there (NOT A DINER), the tipping/​price idea (I’ll get to that in a moment), and just some of the special items. I learned what a «fry jack» was. Still didn’t know what to expect, but I got the Mexican style one, forget what it was called. It had chorizo though! And I WAS IN LOVE, whoa. Like a piece of fried dough, then just topped with breakfast goodness. Tons of hot sauce available on the side, super hot too, loved it. Matt said I could eat it with my hands or a fork and knife. I love me my hands when eating, but this woulda been impossible man! My wife got the burger and it was perfecto. There were so many great items on the menu, it was tough to choose! I got potatoes on the side, and those were different but great. Reg and sweet potatoes combined. That was a nice flavor! They have tons of craft sodas, like cream sodas, root beers. Not really into that, but I could see kids eating up this place. And I guess adults who love weird sodas? I know a few, for sure.
So yeah, the prices are all flat, you leave what your bill says. They said tip is not necessary. I like it, different. It said on the menu to spread the word and share the love with reviews and whatever. So hopefully this does it and this place continues to do great business. Good luck, amazing food and fun place!

So good! I had the pkscramble. It was delicious. The fried bread is amazing! I will definitely be back.

I agree that PK Diner is a little pricey but I think fairly priced for the quality of food and service, think brunch not breakfast. I like the Tip and Tax included in the price.
We’ve had PK Diner on our list after we found out Alton Brown ate here when we saw him in February. So we decided to stalk Rose’s recent trip here and to New Glarus, Wi. with a side trip to Rockford’s secret Frank Lloyd Wright «jewels».
Everything fresh, made on premises, creative brunch till 2:00.
I had already decided I wanted the PK Scramble and it was delicious with large pieces off an enormous ham I spotted them carving in the kitchen. Fantastic savory scramble blend of white and sweet potatoes with a side of gravy. See Rose’s detailed review. My partner had a Fryjack that had sauteed mushrooms and sliced pickled white beets. I liked mine, she liked hers, perfect; I got my plate back after we swapped for awhile.
Biscuits and honey were on the table and a welcome addition to the gravy that came with my scramble. My father is going to LOVE the leftover Biscuits and gravy. I’m not a big fan but it was the best I had ever tasted. Not a salt bomb, with hints of maybe white pepper as heat, and loaded with crumbled sausage.
Coffee was good but not as plentiful as I would have liked, and the cups are too small. Service was very friendly but erratic. The smaller tables are too small for two people imo with all that delicious food and biscuits and gravy and coffee cups and water bottle and water glasses.
Not sure whose parking lot I was in but there was plenty of parking.
I didn’t, and wouldn’t, make a special trip here just to go to PK Diner, but Rockford has some great destinations and ya gotta eat.
Don’t forget Anderson Gardens. Be there if you can’t get to the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

This place was suggested by several different groups of friends. I know why now. Wow great food. The old fashion diner feel. The collection and selection of flavored pops old fashion style. Crème sodas, black cherry, root beer, orange, grape and ginger ale. WOW. That alone would make me come back. The food makes you stay. The pulled pork with pickled onion straws and that spicy potato salad I want more. My girlfriend got the Cuban she didn’t want to share. My daughter had a burger she didn’t want share either. This is great place to enjoy lunch.

I’m not a fan of including the tip in the price of the food but with Pk Diner it is well worth it. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. I will recommend this establishment to anybody. There are no other restaurants where I have left feeling spoiled. This is the first review I have left but wanted everybody to enjoy what I just enjoyed so I couldn’t resist.

Best service and breakfast I have ever had. I created a Unilocal account specifically to share my experience at this establishment.
Not only did the server go above and beyond to be hospitable but she also provided FREE cookies and a FREE iced cream coffee.
I ordered the PK scramble for breakfast which consisted of diced white and sweet potatoes, ham, sausage gravy, bacon, and onions topped with an egg fried to perfection, melted cheese, and crisp green onions. The flavor was outstanding and ingredients obviously fresh including home made gravy. I ordered a cup of coffee which was also rich in flavor and fresh as was the cream.
The atmosphere was simple, stylish, ad comfortable.
I try not to eat at the same place twice if I have a choice but this place I will most certainly be returning to!

I had the absolutely BEST breakfast I have ever had at PK Diner! I am a breakfast fiend & love going out to breakfast, finding new places to try, so when we were headed to New Glarus, WI for the day I decided we’d leave a bit early & check out some place in Rockford on the way for breakfast. After perusing the choices on Unilocal I settled on PK Diner based on their interesting menu & other reviews.
All the staff truly seemed happy to be there and it’s obvious they treat their employees well. The service was outstanding from our server, Sarah, to the nice gentlemen who never let my coffee cup go less than half-​full and the guys working the grill/​kitchen who chatted with us while we sat at the counter.
On the weekends they offer free buttermilk biscuits with local honey & butter… those biscuits were mighty tasty! I had the PK Skillet which is an amazing combo of ingredients that worked together oh-so-tastily…their fresh fennel-​sausage was excellent in it along with big, tender chunks of ham… there was the awesome sausage gravy… the combo of sweet & white potatoes seasoned perfectly… oh I could go on and on about the wonderful makings of the PK Skillet and there was plenty more packed in there. The Hubs had the Sun Burn Fry Jack breakfast (also darn good with crispy avocado & cilantro among other fresh ingredients — what a treat!). We both enjoyed the fry jacks as an alternative to toast, too. Normally we both would take half our breakfast home when we go out but since we were traveling for the day that was not an option… but nothing was wasted because we both greedily gobbled up the whole thing it was that darn good.
Now we have the perfect place to stop for breakfast or lunch (gotta try some of those craft sodas next time!) should we find ourselves in the Rockford area again and I would love to try the other 2 restaurants the family owns for dinner in the area sometime.

If you’re looking for amazing local fresh food, friendly go-​out-​of-​their-​way service, and great coffee… this is the spot!

Amazing food, craft sodas and service!
This was my first time and I tried the fry Jack with vinegar fries! Amazing
The craft soda selections are great and the gave us elephant ears on the house!!!
Great great great wish I knew about this place sooner!

Very unique and very tasty!
Love that the price on the menu is what you pay… no additional tax and no tip required
They pay their staff fair wages and every single person that works there is happy, welcoming, and super nice!!! We come to town once a month and are glad to have found this gem.
The menu is not what you will expect and you may have a lot of questions before ordering but you will love it!
Will post pics and descriptions of what we are as well :)
Hope you get to visit sometime!

We have been dying to get here but haven’t had a morning without our son until now. Being big fans of Abreo and Social (all owned by same person) we knew this wasn’t going to be a place for kids. Walking in I was surprised how small the place was and that it was open to the heartland building. Church was letting out so a lot of people were roaming around. We were worried about parking but found one right in front of building with a bunch of tables open inside, though we sat at the counter open to kitchen.
I ordered a PK scramble and my husband the biscuits and gravy. All food is locally sourced and they even make their own sausage. The scramble was excellent, although the addition of sweet potatoes was a little weird to me. Half of the menu items are served with a fry jack instead of bread. This is essentially a flavorless fried pita. The biscuits and gravy wrere average, nothing to write home About, but the $ 13 price tag was way too steep. Granted it does include tip and tax but biscuits and gravy anywhere worse is less than $ 5 so a $ 7 tip is steep! All of the side items, bacon, sausage, potatoes were all $ 5 each.
I wanted to try one of the craft sodas but $ 4 is a lot for a soda. Plus $ 8 to add ice cream, that screams rip off to me. We will come back to check out lunch and will come back when we want a special breakfast.

It’s so great to know that you don’t have to leave the comforts of Rockford to get an AMAZING brunch!
THANK YOU Paul and Keith (PK!) for PK diner!
This is such a great dive and diner combined. It’s a hidden gem in the Heartland Church strip mall. Yes, this is in a strip mall (we live in the midwest which is strip mall central!) The ambiance is really chill, laid back and you feel like you are in a diner that collects hot sauces and soda bottles from all over!
There is a unique Belize influence to the food with the flap jacks (it’s like a fluffy tortilla– great street food in Belize) and it’s a great basic bread for breakfast/​brunch. They make around 150 on a weekend day (so you know they are GOOOOOOOD!) Paul’s wife is from Belize and it’s her grandmother’s recipe and she says they make it better in the diner now!
They have everything you would want for breakfast/​brunch and even lunch. Really savory, hearty and most importly YUMMY.
You must check out this special place.
The pricing is great (includes tip and tax) and everyone helps out in the service.
It’s got the local feel– it seems like the staff knows everyone (or remembers when you were there last) and you really feel like you are at home.
Everything is also locally sourced.
You feel good about eating here because everyone is treated great, you are supporting local people and local providers of food. It’s a win-​all situation all around.
They have great hot sauces too (and if you love it you can take some home!)
Great for kids: high chairs, kids menus… and homemade cream sodas. It’s great family dining all around.
Tips (since you don’t need to leave one– just pass on the word about this great place!):
–if your egg mixture has potatoes in it, you don’t need more potatoes on the side. get another side or the fruit cup– it will add some refreshment
–EVERYTHING is good– you can’t go wrong (we got the evita, the PK scramble) EVERYTHING is amazing.
–oatmeal cookie for dessert is the size of a plate– see my picture with knife for reference! I would say get it without the sugar glaze and just dip it in the whipped cream (fresh made and oh so dreamy!) instead which comes on the side
GO HERE!!!

Wait staff is attentive and service is quick! We appreciated the emphasis on local foods, and our dishes were interesting and tasty. Our server was very accommodating toward my wife’s gluten-​free needs and made some recommendations accordingly. We will return!
They should probably note somewhere that their PK Potatoes are a mixed of roasted Idaho and sweet potatoes. I liked them, even though I don’t usually enjoy sweet potatoes, but someone who’s more averse may not like this surprise.

I have been here twice recently, after an excellent experience at Abreo downtown. And under the assumption they are owned by the same people, decided to try Pk Diner. Both times have been for breakfast. The food has been of good quality both times, however it has also been a bit on the salty side both times as well which worries me. If I go back again I will make mention of it and see how it turns out. Am interested in trying their lunch options and plan to do that in the near future. I love all the soda’s offered but being there for breakfast both times has kept me from ordering any of those yet. The menu states tips are included in the price, which I certainly hope is true because the waitress puts forth tremendous effort to ensure happy customers which seems difficult for one person to manage when busy.

I really like this place! It has a simple layout, friendly husband and wife staff. I got the «Hobbit» which was a great combo of arugula, eggs and mushrooms along with a side of sweet and white potatoes. Spices were great. Most of the recipes sport what is called a «Fry Jack», a take on something from Belize, basically a deep fried tortilla. My ingredients were placed on this and it didn’t work: hard to cut into, lacked flavor. I would recommend it on the side and salt right after frying or just fresh tortillas! Little heavy on oil but overall, yummy! Great coffee too!

This place is an absolute dream. The décor may be simple, but the food is anything but.
Start yourself off with a Coffee. It’s local; roasted in downtown Rockford. Grab a cold soda on the side. My suggestion is the Caramel Cream. Sip of coffee. Sip of caramel. Hot. Cold. You just can’t go wrong.
What to eat? Anything. The Biscuits and Gravy are like nothing you’ve ever had. I’ve never been fennel-​ed so hard in my life. It should be a crime. The biscuits will stick to your gut. In a good way. Made fresh every day.
Anything with a fry-​jack under it will delight your soul. What’s a fryjack, you ask? Fried Euphoria. Crispy, yet soft. Confusing, yet entirely intuitive. «Why haven’t I ever had anything like this before? Am I supposed to be doing this? Is this new? Have I ever truly lived before this? These are questions you’ll ask yourself when you eat a fryjack.
And don’t worry about the prices. TAX and TIP are included in the flat rate prices. What you see is exactly what you pay. Pay attention to what you pay the next time you get crappy diner food somewhere else. But this ISN’T crappy diner food. It’s food for the soul. And it’s fantastic. Pay the couple extra bucks and find out what absolute satisfaction tastes like…
Next time they’re serving The BEAST… Treat Yo’ Self!

I’m happy the tax and tip are included and not because the prices seem high. To wait 10 minutes for coffee, then another 10 for someone to take your order when the place is only half full is silly.
The food is good. The veggie skillet had great flavor. The fried bread thing is a neat twist.
I’m new to the concept of eateries in strip malls. The opening to the church and whatever else seemed strange. As did all the foot traffic through the restaurant into the open space.
Go for the food, not the service or ambiance.

I would like to address the «sticker shock» first, as most others have. Their staff is «paid fair wages» and tipping is not necessary. The menu encourages patrons to pass the word on instead of leaving a tip. I wasn’t thrilled with being forced to tip a certain percentage, however, this isn’t even a problem. I really appreciate this new concept.
AIso, I am all for eating and spending local, having grown up in a farming town. This is always a bonus I look for.
Food: I ordered the grilled cheese burger with vinegar fries. Yum! I am not a big mustard fan, but their mustard aioli is fantastic! Everything about this meal was delicious. There was just enough vinegar, but not overpowering. The burger was super delicious. I got three meals out of this entrée.
My husband ordered something with their chorizo. He loved it and I thought the chorizo had a great flavor (I am not a chorizo fan). He was a very happy camper.
My husband and I can’t wait to go back.

Oh Dang!
Everything we tried was excellent. I had the scrambler special which was a combination of chorizo, ham pieces and lots of great bacon over a bed of sweet and white potatoes with onions. I loved that the meats weren’t running over with grease which is a challenge when cooking with chorizo. If you like chorizo, don’t skip it here. Theirs is great. The seasoning on the potatoes kept my fork going and it was topped with local butterkase cheese (not sure about spelling, but gooood).
Although the entrée price was high for a breakfast menu, it included tip and tax and enough food that I could only eat half. Leftovers are a plus for me!
My kiddo had the kid’s crêpe dressed with honey orange sauce and juicy fresh raspberries with a side of PK potatoes. Yum! After she finished she sat on my lap and told me that she really, really liked this restaurant. I’m sure the craft Orange Cream soda tipped her opinion over the edge…
The service was great — thanks Jane!
Our bottomless cup of coffee hit the spot. Thank you for sourcing local!