Elmo’s Diner in Durham, North Carolina, brings together everything people love about a great neighborhood diner: warm hospitality, hearty American food, and the kind of comfort that makes every visit feel familiar.
Located at 776 9th St, this inviting spot is known for serving breakfast anytime, along with lunch, dinner, brunch, and dessert in a setting that feels homey, casual, and cozy.
With booths, table service, counter seating, and a lively atmosphere, Elmo’s Diner offers a dependable place to gather with family, meet friends, or enjoy a meal on your own. Guests consistently return for the fast service, great coffee, standout desserts, and local specialties that give the menu its character and appeal.
What makes Elmo’s Diner especially appealing is the range and flexibility it offers. Whether you want to dine in, take your meal to go, or make use of on-site services, the experience is designed to fit your day.
The menu covers the bases beautifully, with comfort food, quick bites, healthy options, vegan choices, vegetarian dishes, and classic American square meals that satisfy a wide variety of tastes. Alcohol, beer, and coffee round out the offerings, while the bar on site and restroom access add convenience and comfort.
It’s a place that works just as well for solo dining as it does for a relaxed family meal, and the welcoming, family-friendly vibe helps make every visit feel easy and enjoyable.
Accessibility and guest convenience are also clearly a priority at Elmo’s Diner. The restaurant provides a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, helping ensure that more guests can enjoy the experience with ease and confidence.
It also accepts credit cards and debit cards for simple, flexible payment, and reservations are accepted for those who like to plan ahead. While there is usually a wait, that only speaks to the diner’s popularity and strong reputation.
With a customer rating of 4.50 out of 5 from 5,022 reviews, Elmo’s Diner has earned a loyal following by consistently delivering quality food, dependable service, and a welcoming atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Elmo's Diner
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Marinated chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, onion & mayo on a toasted bun
A grilled triple-decker with home-baked turkey, ham, Swiss, cheddar & provolone cheeses, cole slaw & 1000 Island dressing, served on rye
Grilled ham & melted Swiss on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, mayo & onion
A spin off of the old classic B.L.T with two slices of cheddar cheese grilled on rye then topped with bacon, lettuce & tomato
Cheddar, jack, sautéed mushrooms and onions & tomatoes on grilled whole wheat
Broiled marinated salmon fillet on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, mayo & a side of tartar sauce
Spicy hummus, red onion, tomato & cucumber on grilled whole wheat
Our NC-style shredded chicken BBQ on a toasted bun, with lettuce, tomato & a side of spicy BBQ sauce
Ask your serverEither our homemade chicken or tuna salad on your choice of toasted bread with lettuce & tomato
One golden brown salmon cake served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, red onion plus dill sauce on the side
Ask your serverEither our homemade chicken or tuna salad on your choice of toasted bread with lettuce & tomato
Our own roasted turkey thinly sliced with tomato, lettuce and mayo on your choice of toasted bread
One egg any style and one slice of toast
Served with warm milk and brown sugar
One piece of white bread dipped in cinnamon batter, grilled, then dusted with powdered sugar.
1 Strip
1 Link
1 Patty
1 Patty
1 Piece
Pasta with our own meaty marinara sauce.
Spaghetti noodles served plain with Parmesan on the side.
Choose either three sides or two sides and a bread from the square meals side choices on the menu’s middle panel.
NC-style shredded chicken BBQ, a large order of fries, cole slaw, cornbread & a side of spicy BBQ sauce
Same as above without the chicken
Tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms & cheddar
Sausage, sautéed onions, jack cheese & salsa
Ham, sautéed onions, green peppers & American
Spinach, feta, kalamata olives & tomatoes
With chipotle dressing!
Spicy blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, olive oil, garlic & spices. Served with grilled pita bread, celery & carrot sticks
Tasty corn chips with our homemade salsa.
Crisp romaine, red onions & homemade croutons tossed in our creamy Caesar dressing & topped with a marinated salmon fillet
Fresh greens, freshly roasted turkey breast, sliced ham, strips of Swiss & cheddar, diced tomatoes, homemade croutons, a hard-boiled egg & a choice of dressing
Two eggs any style*, with a made-from-scratch biscuit topped with sausage gravy, choice of one breakfast side & choice of one breakfast meat
Two eggs any style* & one salmon cake topped with scallions & tomatoes. Served with a side of dill sauce, grits, biscuit & a garnish of fresh fruit
w/ Cinnamon Apples Baked French toast stuffed with cream cheese & apples & topped with cinnamon apples & whipped cream (Like breakfast bread pudding!) Served with two eggs any style and a meat choice
Quiche Florentine (spinach, tomatoes, onions, feta) Ham, Bacon & Swiss Quiche Ask your server which quiches are available today! Your choice of quiche served with one breakfast side & your choice of bread
Three slices of sunflower bread dipped in cinnamon batter, grilled & dusted with powdered sugar
Marinated chicken breast topped with Swiss cheese & sautéed mushrooms. Served with two sides & a bread choice
Two homemade salmon cakes topped with our creamy dill sauce, tomatoes & scallions. Served with two sides & a bread choice
Our juicy meatloaf seasoned with Italian spices, topped with our tangy red sauce or our brown mushroom gravy. Served with two sides & choice of bread
A bubbling rich chicken broth with chunks of chicken, vegetables & dropped biscuit dough simmered until fluffy! Served with two sides & a bread choice.
Marinated, broiled salmon* served with two sides & a choice of bread
(Available anytime!) We make our own sauce with freshly ground beef, tomatoes, onions, peppers, red wine & spices! Served with a small Caesar or house salad & a roll
Hear from our valued guests
Your friendly neighborhood diner, man. Warm greetings at the door, attentive waitresses, and speedy service. Patrons seemed sweet as well talking to one another at different tables. Ordered soft scrambles with sausage patties, two pancakes and a side Caesar. The orange slice was a bit dry but nothing to complain about, everything else was on point. Didn’t need lunch afterwards.
Great place! Met my brothers there for a wonderful breakfast. We all love the Mom & Pop, unique restaurants, and this is one of those. I got the pancakes with the cranberry, oat, apple topping with whipped cream on the side (and bacon), middle brother got the huevos rancheros, and oldest brother got an omelet. We felt slightly guilty talking with our mouths full. The service was excellent; that perfect blend of attentiveness and not interfering. Great coffee. Better atmosphere, and it was hard to beat the coffee. Middle brother had been there before, oldest and youngest first time. We'll all be back,and one is 4 hours away
Great food and even better service! The portions are plentiful and served fresh. Our long-time server was fantastic and she helped us pick the perfect meal (the cranberry crunch on pancakes is a must-try). There was a bit of a wait to get in, but what can you expect for a restaurant this good? Worth it!
Great service complimented by outstanding food. Spacious and comfortable atmosphere. Very attentive staff. The California omelette was a great choice!
best breakfast in North Carolina. Although we had a 5 minute wait they sped around and we got a table fast, the hostess was very kind and friendly, and so was our waitress, Gwen. We got our drinks fast and food also fast despite it being a busy Saturday morning. The food is so amazing, shrimp and grits are the best I’ve ever and to be honest I don’t like shrimp and grits but I LOVED these. The lemon berry pancakes were so good, and so were the house cut fries. Over all this place is the best breakfast in all on NC.
I’m a plant based eater. This place came up when I searched “vegan options near me” in google maps. By the way, that search is great when the party is part carnivore and part plant based (as ours was). Upon being seated (approximately 15 minutes, not bad for a Sunday morning), I looked through the menu and was concerned I wouldn’t have any food options. When the wait staff member arrived, I asked about vegan options. I was delighted when she said” let me go get the special menu.” The special menu was a regular menu but all the vegan options were highlighted in pink and veggie options highlighted in another color. WHAT AN AWESOME IDEA! The place really met the needs of our diverse group. I’m a really big fan of the wait staff introducing themselves. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Other than that, it was a great experience. Additional note, by the time we left at around 10:15 on a Sunday, the wait looked huge. The line was out the door and around the corner. Arrive early or be prepared to wait if it’s Sunday.
Best breakfast in the world, period. I lived in Durham for 4 years and this was my go-to breakfast spot for the entirety of it. Every time I visit, I make sure to hit it up. Absolutely amazing service and atmosphere and food is always cooked to perfection. Omelettes are incomparably fluffy and fries are always deliciously crispy. My fav is California omelette with home fries and sunflower toast!
Had breakfast here today, 26MAY26. Food was excellent and very reasonable prices. The staff were all very friendly and accommodating. My server, Maritza was awesome. I asked for her recommendations and she immediately suggested several items to choose from. Then after I ordered, she suggested different condiments to accompany my meal. As you have guessed, I highly recommend Elmo’s Diner. This was my first trip, but I will definitely be back! Thank you for the dining experience I remember from many days ago.
Plan for a wait but the line moves fast. Our food was delicious! Baked french toast, salmon cakes, eggs Benedict, omelet. The biscuits are yummy, fries and apples are also great sides.
I haven't eaten in many restaurants in Durham. This one was a surprise, significantly above my expectations. I thought it was going to get traditional southern cooking and they have that, but they also have some of the best hummus I ever ate in the US, perfectly seasoned. The menu is action packed from biscuits and gravy to huevos rancheros to burgers and specialties. Everything seems to be fresh and homemade. The homemade dinner rolls are outstanding. The pita bread is excellent. I need to try more dishes. The interior is pretty upscale but the restrooms are old. Very busy in a very unique part of town. Highly recommended. The pecan pie is honestly better than my mom's.
Common questions about Elmo's Diner
Elmo's Diner is located at 776 9th St, Durham, NC 27705, United States, Durham, NC, United States.
You can reach Elmo's Diner by calling +1 919-416-3823.
Elmo's Diner has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 5022 customer reviews.
Elmo's Diner features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Elmo's Diner features the following service options: On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Elmo's Diner features the following highlights: Fast service, Great coffee, Great dessert, Serves local specialty.
Elmo's Diner features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Elmo's Diner features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Quick bite, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Elmo's Diner features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Elmo's Diner features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Elmo's Diner features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Lively.
Elmo's Diner features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists, University students.
Elmo's Diner features the following planning: Usually a wait, Accepts reservations.
Elmo's Diner features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards.
Elmo's Diner features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
Elmo's Diner features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Plenty of parking.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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