Happy Days Diner

It’s okay for a diner. Typical choices. Nothing special. I use to go for the breakfast buffet but it was pretty standard

It’s been a time honored tradition of sorts to stop by this joint after a long commute from the city. Which city you ask? Answer to that question depends: from the era of 2006 to 2010 (in the lifetime of yours truly), the city in question would happen to be the City of Brotherly Love… Philadelphia for those who are not familiar with the immensely popular nickname of the same. Since those formative years (of this particular writer) of being a boy/​child/​not-​yet-​a-​man… from the years of 2010 to the here and now, residency status now belongs to NYC (in particular, Astoria). While the commute is significantly longer at present… fortunately, the food, comfort, and service with a smile at the Happy Days Diner remains the same even after the better part of the past decade.
Taking its moniker from the hit television show spanning 1974 – 1984, this joint’s garish menu cover takes inspiration from the show as well (bright colors, the Fonz, juke box sensibilities…). I also enjoy looking at the deserts spin around in the brightly lit glass display case.
Hours that span 24/​7, servers that actually enjoy their jobs, and the ever diverse diner menu are some of the little bits that add to the charm of this joint. I’ve been here early afternoon, dinner time, way past dinner time… and the place remains the same, as though it is simply apart from the rest of the world, in it’s own little microcosm, unaffected by the laws of time and space… a bit hyperbolic maybe, but then again maybe not.
I’ve ran roughshod over the menu, and am probably not even close to getting through all of it. From breakfast at night to liver and onions… I’ve tried a bit of everything, and everything is just as tasty as you could expect from a place like this, and at bargain prices. A large platter of steak and eggs for less than $ 15? Less than $ 14? $ 13 too??? Absolute craziness… and they managed to get a great rare to medium rare on it every time I ask.
While this particular writer fancies the idea of change (change within, change for the better… on physical, psychological, spiritual, intellectual levels), to quote the great Billy Joel, «I love you just the way you are.» No change needed.

1^st time won’t be the last. Stopped in for dinner after some shopping. The food and service was very good. My only complaint was I had ordered a Rueben, the bottom piece of bread was a little soggy from the sauerkraut. It was traditionally assembled, but I find if the sauerkraut is in the middle of cheese and corned beef the bread doesn’t get soggy as it’s grilled. Other than, great flavor, nice fresh sauerkraut. Fries were crisp and hot. My wife had a waffle and bacon served with warm maple syrup.
Most impressive, the restroom was the cleanest diner (an most restaurants) restroom I’ve seen. You know if they take time to keep the restrooms clean, the kitchen is clean.
Nice job overall

Food is so-​so, but the hours make up for it. Open 24/​7, seating is pretty much instant, and it has everything you want after a night out or whatever.
Sundays and what not are pretty much packed to full capacity in the morning with families, church people, etc, but I usually go late night or whenever and don’t have a problem getting breakfast whenever I’m in the mood for it.
Service can be a little wonky, but it is one of the few options in the D-​town area to get an omelet at 3AM.

I used to be a regular here until I moved away, but I make an effort to get back here once in a while. I would have given it 4 stars, except for one thing: despite the pared down menu, they still can’t manage to stock falafel. I’ve been there 3 times in 9 months and they never have the falafel. I come all the way to Thorndale when I have a craving for the Mediterranean platter, and so far this year, I’ve left disappointed. The service was excellent, however, and the chicken parm that I wound up ordering was fantastic.

So they have a special on Fridays called Mac n Crab. It’s Mac n cheese with two «Chesapeake» crab cakes and stewed tomatoes. Being a Baltimorian I had to get it. Very disappointing. Mac n cheese was too bland and crabs lacked the one thing that would have made Chesapeake… Old Bay seasoning. At least my tomatoes were good.

I read other bad reviews and figured the people who complained about this establishment were typical internet whiners. So I took my family there anyways. I couldn’t have been more wrong…
The burgers were described as «fresh» on the menu, but turned out to be frozen patties that all had the same pre-​cut shape, which tasted freezer burned — served on a huge, hard Kaiser bun that could be used as a doorstop.
They have at least a hundred items on the menu — meaning, they don’t focus on a few good things, rather stuff a freezer full of anything and nuke it to order.
I sat in the far right of the building with my family and it felt like I was in an oven. Again — many people complained about this and I thought they were just whiners and complainers. Good lord, they were right again. I never complain about things like that, but it was unbearable — especially since you could hold your arm out and it would be freezing outside the burning air bubble I was forced to sit in.
Our kids are 6 and 3 — not hard to please. My wife and I are in our late thirties and we laughed the whole time about the horrible quality food, the dirt, and looking at the other clientele — we just felt like we didn’t belong here in a brash mix of people who seemed more content eating loads of horrible freezer burned food than maybe go out and walk or jog around the block every now and then (if you catch my drift).
We had fun with it all, trying to make a horrible experience good until the bill came… for our family of 4 we ordered 2 burgers for the adults, 2 kid’s platters, 3 milkshakes and beverages: 2 ice teas and two apple juices. What do you think the price was? I’ll tell you — it was over 80 dollars!!! And of course we leave 20 percent, so it was 100 dollars for the most horrible dinner ever.
I’m easy to please but this place was terrible and I left utterly disappointed.

I wish I could find Midway Grille. Instead this place was prominent on the main drag. Salad bar a bit lame and my special had to be substituted with another fish. Not bad but a little light on the amount of entrée provided. Just made for a lame presentation.

This place was okay… service was great and quick. Food was mediocre. Large servings. However I ordered corn with the open face turkey and there were more lima beans then corn. I would try it again for breakfast

I used to like Happy Days until my experience tonight. I came with my friends and their children and we are not having a good time. The waitress is not friendly and did not get our order correct. I asked her if we could substitute my wife’s eggs for hash browns and she said she would check. I called her over ten minutes later because she never came back and she told me they couldn’t substitute the eggs so she just added an order of hash browns extra without asking. Who does that without asking? Luckily I am in a good mood or else I would have left.
They also messed my friends meal up as well. She wanted her chipped beef and her potatoes separate because she doesn’t eat them together. When they brought the food out they didn’t separate it and she had to send it back. When they brought her food back out, they didn’t make her food over again they just put it on two separate plates. Needless to say, she found potatoes in her chipped beef. She had to send her food back because she became so frustrated.
Definitely not the best tonight. I will think twice before coming back here.

Had Lunch at Happy Days yesterday. We had Corned Chipped Beef and it was outta sight. Great Service also. The New Manager greeted and seated us and checked in to see how we were doing. Our Server had a bubbly personality and quite nice. You can’t beat Happy Days.

Food was spectacular. Even though the place was busy, we were sat very promptly and served even quicker! Very attentive and the food was just great.

We had lunch and a dinner there; it is very good for a diner with a nice atmosphere. We felt comfortable with the baby and will return often, great default.

A little while ago, Happy Days pared down their menu, by a lot. Since then, the quality of the food has gone way up! In fact, they are now a standby for us on nights when I don’t feel like cooking, and I often meet up with friends here for breakfast.
The reuben sandwich is by far my favorite item on the menu. I also like their lunch specials — they are a good deal. Their soups are often good, and the service is usually good — occasionally you get a old-​school waitress who doesn’t want to deal with you, but maybe that’s part of the charm of a diner, haha.
I’m really happy with the changes, and hope they stick! It’s right around the corner, and so convenient for us.
Now if they would only put their menu online…

If your looking for good diner food go elsewhere

Here’s the deal: I’m pretty sure they don’t have the proper rights to use the name Happy Days, their menu is filled with pictures ripped off of Google Images (including a poorly cropped mirrored photo of a DVD box set of the TV show «Happy Days»), and I’m convinced the entire staff goes on a monthly time traveling trip to 1986 to get haircuts… but that’s what makes this place AWESOME.
They’re always really quick and consistent with your orders, and the staff is extremely accommodating. If you’re bringing a group of 20 people, they’ll push a ton of tables together and make sure you’re taken care of. If you just want to chill with a good friend and spend countless hours talking, they’ll let you occupy your booth for as long as you want after your meal.
They’re open 24 hours a day, and if you’re an insomniac, this is the place to be. The bright and reflective décor will only help feed your protest of sleep, and with free WiFi and a decently maintained bathroom, you could probably spend an entire week here before they kick you out.
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Happy Days Pro Tip: The automatic paper towel dispenser in the men’s bathroom is whack. Just punch it right where the sensor is, and you’ll be able to impress your friends with how dry your hands are!
Update: They replaced the paper towel dispenser. As much fun as it was to pretend to be the Fonz with the old one, don’t punch the new one. It works.

If you still enjoy dining with an air of cigarette smoke in your non-​smoking section seating, then this is the place for you. The more places that offer smoke-​free dining the less and less tolerant I am of places that still support the cancer industry.
Average diner fare. We had breakfast selections that were OK. Their hash browns were simple sliced potatoes, fried, that had no flavor (no apparent onions or spices mixed in) and were not cooked long enough. Pretty bland.
Our waiter did turn the smoke fan/​filter on after we asked about the wafts of smoke that came with him every time he approached from the smoking section. My question is why aren’t those fans running all the time?