Ask anyone who went to school in Tempe where they ate breakfast, and a diner name usually comes up before the coffee is poured. Chorizo and eggs has always been the order that ties these places together, with spicy sausage, scrambled eggs, beans, potatoes, and warm tortillas on one plate.
Some of these spots have wood-paneled walls and counters that have fed generations of students, while others are longtime local chains that keep the classic on the menu. Here are six Tempe breakfast stops where that plate is still easy to find, plus the hours and details you need before you go.
1. Harlow’s Cafe, Tempe, AZ
Wood paneling, low ceilings, and a menu that has not tried to reinvent itself. Harlow’s Cafe on West University Drive is the kind of place Tempe students point to when they mean an old-school diner.
The chorizo and eggs plate is the reason it leads this list. It comes the full traditional way, with potatoes, beans, and tortillas, and it has a reputation as one of the best versions in town.
The rest of the menu stays in classic territory. Think steak and eggs, chicken fried steak and eggs, beef green chile breakfast burritos, corned beef hash omelets, huevos rancheros, and biscuits and gravy.
Plan around the schedule. Harlow’s runs 8 AM to 2 PM and is closed Tuesdays, and weekend mornings are the busiest stretch, so a weekday visit is the easier play.
Most plates land in the $10 to $20 range. Parking is usually plentiful, and there is a kids’ menu if the whole family is coming along.
2. Sunny’s Diner, Tempe, AZ
Early risers, this one opens at 6 AM Monday through Saturday. Sunny’s Diner on East University Drive gives you a head start that most Tempe breakfast spots do not.
The style here leans East Coast diner, with a big menu that borrows from several cuisines. Chorizo and eggs holds a regular spot among favorites, and there is also a spicy chorizo omelet.
Fair warning on that omelet. It carries real heat, so order it only if you like your chorizo bold.
Beyond chorizo, the menu covers a Western scramble, biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, breakfast burritos, and signature French toast. Portions run generous, and service tends to be quick and friendly.
Sunday hours start at 7 AM, and the kitchen wraps up at 3 PM daily. Free Wi-Fi makes it an easy solo stop for students with a laptop and a free morning.
3. US Egg Breakfast and Lunch, Tempe, AZ
Folk art on the walls and omelets that take up most of the plate set this Baseline Road stop apart. US Egg is a local Valley chain, and the Tempe branch keeps the same diner-style menu fans know.
The chorizo omelet is the go-to for this list. It shows up as a hefty plate, sitting alongside the Denver omelet in a wide lineup of egg dishes.
Skillets get plenty of attention too, including the Santa Fe Skillet and Meat Lovers Skillet. Huevos rancheros, fresh-pressed apple juice and orange juice, and a protein-focused menu round things out.
Gluten-free Benedicts and a vegan fruit plate make it a smart pick for a group with mixed diets. There is outdoor seating, and dogs are allowed outside.
Hours run 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM every day. Reservations are not taken, so Sunday morning means a wait, while weekdays are noticeably calmer.
4. Original Biscuits restaurant, Tempe, AZ
Down in south Tempe on Elliot Road, Original Biscuits plays the neighborhood breakfast joint role well. The setting is relaxed and homey, and the staff keeps things moving.
Eggs and chorizo here has a loyal following. Some regulars would happily order it every single visit.
The name gives away another star. Biscuits and gravy and country gravy anchor the menu, joined by champion pancakes, a breakfast quesadilla, the Poblano House Omelet, huevos rancheros, and Carnitas Supreme.
Friday is the odd day out on the calendar. The kitchen stays open until 8 PM that night, while every other day closes at 2 PM, so Friday dinner with breakfast plates is an option.
Doors open at 7 AM daily. Weekends fill up fast, and reservations are not accepted.
5. Susie’s Mexican Cafe and Lounge, Tempe, AZ
Breakfast burritos all day might be the best news on this list. At Susie’s Mexican Cafe and Lounge, the chorizo and egg burrito is available from opening to close.
Susie’s splits its menu between American breakfasts and familiar Mexican favorites. That makes it a natural home for a solid chorizo breakfast plate, plus bacon, ham, and egg burritos.
Later in the day, the menu shifts toward dishes like pozole and tampiquena. That range is why this East University Drive spot works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Hours are generous. It opens at 7 AM daily and stays open until 9 PM Tuesday through Saturday, 7 PM on Sunday, and 3 PM on Monday.
Prices stay friendly, service is fast, and parking is free. Tuesday mornings are among the quietest times to stop in.
6. Daily Dose Rio Salado, Tempe, AZ
Not every chorizo fan wants the same old scramble. Daily Dose Rio Salado takes the classic in creative directions, and it gives this list a fresher finish.
Chorizo turns up in an eggs Benedict and a chorizo omelet. Pair it with the house hash for a plate that balances egg, chorizo, cheese, and avocado.
Other highlights include the Crabby Omelet, Chili Verde Huevos Rancheros, Southwest Flannel Hash, and biscuits and gravy. Vegan and vegetarian menus make it easy to bring friends with different tastes.
The space is open and airy, and the patio is sheltered from the wind. Dogs are welcome outside.
Daily Dose runs 7 AM to 2 PM every day on South Rockford Drive. It does not take reservations, so Wednesday or Friday afternoon is the low-key window.
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