Bobo’s Restaurant

Super friendly waiter who helped steer me in the right direction.
I ordered a short stack (two) of buttermilk pancakes and he basically told me that one would be the size of my head. I changed my order to one. Sadly, it was rather tough and not that tasty.
With a side order of one sausage patty and a cup of coffee the bill came to $ 10. Not exactly cheap eats.

Great breakfast place! I’ve been here twice and it never disappoints!
The parking situation could be better, but the food, service and atmosphere are great. It’s a classic style breakfast joint, very personable staff and the food comes out quick, even though they are super busy. The pancakes are ginormous! Literally the side of your face plus more. They are very on top of refilling your coffee and very accommodating about splitting your checks if you’re in a group.
Can’t go wrong with a pancake or omelette!

6 years away from Tucson, and this is the first place I recommend anyone go when they visit here. Finally came back for a vacation and this was the first place I stopped for food. These apple pancakes are the best pancakes you will ever have. I feel I’ve done enough travelling to say, these are the best in the world.

Hands down one of the best breakfast places in town. I’ve tried a lot of menu items and I’m yet to be disappointed. There is a small wait but it’s well worth it. It seems this place has been open for some time, and they got it right on. Only area I would say need a little improvement is the cleanliness. The booths had some trash on the sides of the seats between the window and the seats. I can live with that though, I’m eating my food off the plate not the side of the booth, but some people can be really picky about that kind of stuff. I still give them 5 stars. Absolute must, banana pancake, don’t ask just try it, it will change your life, forever.

Roberts Restaurunt is our favorite. We’ve tried Frank’s, Bobo’s, and other standard breakfast and lunch joints, but Robert’s is by far consistently the best. The entire staff are hard working and seem to be having a good time, always friendly and helpful. The place is clean and not loud. The food is wholesome. classic American dishes without being nostalgic. They have made a commitment to making most things from scratch, rather than source premade or pre-​prepared food. Check out their fresh pies, cookies, and breads!!! Just don’t forget to try their cinnamon roll, too.
This is a real Tucson treasure!

I recently experienced Bobo’s for the first time with a friend, after years of walking past the Sunday morning line-​out-​the-​door with my dogs.
Bobo’s is awesome. I am a vegan; there was very little I could eat there. But Bobo’s is so awesome I still give it five stars. The atmosphere there is so rich– pure old fashioned Americana greasy spoon. The hard working staff weren’t too busy to make us feel at home. The pancake my friend got was a huge gorgeous masterpiece– she loved it. I enjoyed the coffee, which was good diner style coffee (folgers-​like, not a cup of gourmet Starbucks or anything, but I liked it).
I highly recommend Bobo’s for a classic diner breakfast experience with character. I will bring visiting friends there from now on– such a gem here in Tucson!

Must try pancakes here! Price is fair and you get lots of food, especially if you order pancakes. The place is small and parking is ok, but expect a wait if you arrive during peak weekend brunch time.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday. It was packed. Best thing was the banana and pecan pancake. ITS A MUST! They have standard breakfast items as well. Value for the money is great. Not a place to go for ambiance or atmosphere, its a cramped little place that could feel a bit claustrophobic, def. nothing fancy at all. You will be pleased if you want a low maintenance place for amazing pancakes.

You’re probably going to have to wait, it’s probably extremely busy and you may even end up sharing a table with a stranger, but the food is damn good! (You can usually sit at the counter much faster) The employees are friendly, the cooks are amazing and the staff keeps your water and/​or coffee always filled.
I am absolutely in love with the Huevos Rancheros and have really stopped trying anything else there. They have outrageous sized pancakes, one can probably be shared at the table as a snack. The home-​fries are delicious and you’ll always see a pile cooking on the grill.
Just visiting town? You must check this place out at least once! If you live here in Tucson, what the hell you waiting for!!!

Can’t say enough about this place! It looks like a hole in the wall. Heck, it IS a hole in the wall, but the eats are great!
This is a VERY popular place, so I recommend getting there as soon as it opens or at an off time because you could be waiting, waiting, and waiting. But, it’s worth the wait. The servers are so friendly and attentive. The food tastes FANTASTIC and they provide huge portions.
Love this place!

We were visiting from CO; looking for a great place for breakfast near the hotel. Bobo’s came up as #1 recommendation. I thought we would try it, most reviews said the pancakes and cinnamon rolls were amazing. Let’s just say the food was terrible at best.
First, the floor and tables were filthy, grease every where, on the menus, on the salt and pepper shaker and the cups. Ugh! The food: I ordered the Huevos Ranchero, the tortilla was greasy, the salsa tasted like jar salsa. I also ordered the cinnamon roll hoping the reviews would be somewhat accurate. Disappointed again. The roll was dry, the frosting was flavorless.
To sum it up– don’t go! I would rather have McDonalds or Denny’s instead of Bobo’s.

Good old fashioned home style breakfast joint. Bobos is budget friendly, tasty and to the point. There’s almost always a wait for this place but they do a great job of getting people in and out. Give this place a try if you’re craving some breakfast that tastes like moms or grandmas.

My friend had heard about this place, so we drove over around 12:45 for a brunch. They had lunch options, but many of them had meat (except for the grilled cheese). We both ordered from the breakfast side; I got French toast, and egg and sourdough bread toast. Loved the French toast, had a cinnamon roll flavor. Very busy restaurant, seems to be popular among college students and the young adult crowd in Tucson. Their tables were pretty cool, they had business cards engraved into them and had a sign saying they were redoing the tables, if anyone wanted to promote their own business. Small place, seemed to be family owned and food came out very quickly. My friend’s pancake was huge! Good thing she only ordered one.

Great place for diner food and diner environment. Come hungry because the portions are enormous! I always get one blueberry pancake and have to take some home! the staff are all super friendly and I like going in seeing the same faces every time. I’ve always had to wait before being sat because of how busy they are all the time! Great place to take out of towners.

I figured a grungy spot was a good spot to get a classic american breakfast, especially with the long waits it always had, but all I got was sick.
It’s a small, casual, old diner that always has a wait. Even during weekdays, people pile up outside. My fiancée absolutely loved his huge tasty perfectly cooked banana pancake, and enjoyed his sausages, bacon, and eggs. I ordered the Bobo’s veggie omelet which sounded good with spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers etc, but right away felt the omelet was overstuffed with sour cream. I thought it would be dolloped on the outside, but it was hard to remove since it was saturated inside. I was then sick for the rest of the weekend, details I’ll spare readers. I’ve never had this reaction to any other restaurant in Tucson. I’m not sure if the sour cream was rotten but I definitely won’t be back. Stars are for my fiancée’s experience since he enjoyed his food and did not get sick. Prices are good for huge portions.

This place is delicious! It’s definitely our go-​to for breakfast. I love the french toast that are different than most, while my boyfriend loves the oversized chocolate chip pancakes. Friendly staff and the owner is always there cookin! :)

First off, the owner is here almost daily. she is amazing and you can tell she works her butt off!!! I appreciate that most.
It’s a small «hole in the wall» but don’t over look this gem. The food is great, quick and cheap. It’s family owned and her daughters are often here buzzing around tables refilling coffee and waters. You will not be forgotten in a corner at this place. My favs are the biscuits and gravy and the pancakes (they are the size of the plate so be prepared).
One of my top 5 breakfast spots in the city.
Great job guys!!!

First of the owner is here almost daily. she is amazing and you can tell she works her butt off!!! I appreciate that most.
It’s a small «hole in the wall» but don’t over look this gem. The food is great, quick and cheap. It’s family owned and her daughters are often here buzzing around tables refilling coffee and waters. You will not be forgotten in a corner at this place. My favs are the biscuits and gravy and the pancakes (the are the size of the plate so be prepared).
One of my top 5 breakfast spots in the city.
Great job guys!!!

Bobo’s has that great diner vibe in a great part of town. Despite the smaller size of the restaurant, they have ample parking, which is a surprise. Go hungry, but be prepared to wait because it’s usually packed! The staff was super friendly and the apple pancake was to die for.

For a local «choke and puke» as Burt Reynolds called them, it was pretty good. I read the negative reviews and entered with caution.
If you are an uptight, snobby kind if diner then stay away. It is small, busy, and it seems like somebody is always squeezing by you. But, unlike the negative reviews suggested, the muscle shirt wearing female waitresses were friendly and there were no odd smells that I could detect. The food, came quickly and in large portions. The pancakes are especially large and gave a variety of fillers, but the taste was nothing special… just decent. All the food was good enough and inexpensive, which is certainly the reason for the attraction.
The elephant in the room may be the answer… its the water! If you are not a local you may find issues with the water. The water was not good and it ruined the coffee. I really like my coffee and this was a 2 out of 5 stars. It was not fixable with sugar or creamer. I think the bad water may have something to do with quality of the food, but you get to decide that.
If you want a fast, cheap, and pretty good breakfast and willing to wait in line for it at peak hours then give it a try!

This is a great place for breakfast/​brunch! I’ve had their veggie omelette and their biscuits with gravy. Both of which are delicious! They also have really good home fries which are a little different than I am used to. The food is really reasonably priced which is always a plus! They are very busy so if you come on a weekend, expect a wait. Food comes out pretty fast though!

Pretty awesome brunch spot if you’re looking for a cheap, super casual, heavy meal.
I pass by Bobo’s at least twice a day and there are always people lined up outside on weekends. When I first moved to Tucson, I wondered why people were always gathered outside that shady looking building. And now I know why…
The pancakes! They are huge, buttery, and sweet. I opted for the pancake + eggs, bacon, sausage except I subbed out the the meat for some hash browns. The banana pancake tasted like a combination of a banana upside down cake and brulee. Highly recommend this one. The bananas are nice and gooey and there is a layer of crunchy caramelized sugar on top as well. No syrup needed for this pancake. The ²⁄₃ pancake leftover that I took home was surprisingly good the next morning. The hashbrowns were also some of the best I have had. Soft with some crunchy (but not burned) bits. All this food came out to be about $ 7. Would get this combo again.
Service was friendly. Cashing out, however, was more complicated than it had to be. Instead of separate checks, the cashier gave us a grand total and had us figure it out ourselves. We had to remember what each of us got and how much each item cost. Kinda annoying but not a deal-​breaker.
The dining area is small and in the same room as the «kitchen.» This means that yes, you will absolutely smell like you were working the fryer at a Mcdonalds when you leave. Most people probably don’t care, but it’s one of my biggest pet peeves in life.
All in all, I will be back when I’m in the mood for a hearty breakfast.

Decent food. mixed service.
As everyone else said, the pancakes are huge and delicious (and probably the only thing I’d go back for).
Everything else is just okay. My toast was soggy and the home fries weren’t the best. The eggs were good, but I don’t feel like you can do much to mess eggs up.
Great service from the black man who works behind the counter! The guy behind the register was a little socially awkward though. Kind of came off as rude, even though I don’t think he was trying to be.
I’d probably give the place a second chance, but for now I recommend going to Chaffin’s. That place is AMAZING and there’s never a long wait (if any at all)

This is breakfast diner perfection. There’s a large menu to accommodate any tastes, and everything is great. Be warned, the pancakes are gigantic. Best home fries in tucson… they are home made not frozen, grilled and crispy on the outside and tender in the middle… delicious, especially floating in maple syrup. If you get there before 0730, you can get a full egg/​fries/​toast/​coffee breakfast for under $ 2.50. Not kidding! Coffee is good and Wait staff is attentive and hustles to keep cups filled and food served fast and steaming. Outstanding.

Well, even though I gave it a 3-​star doesn’t mean I don’t come here very often. Super crowded every single time I went there, maybe i shouldn’t bring too many people with me. Their stuffs are super nice and the food comes in HUGE portions, just not that refresh I think, kinda make me want to sleep more after a heavy brunch…

This used to be one of my favorite spots for breakfast. But I hadn’t been to Bobo’s in something like 8 years. Maybe more actually.
Anyway, this is a famed Tucson institution. It’s where local go and where locals take their visitors. The place is tiny, so expect a wait. And you may even find yourself seated with strangers. In addition to some booth seating, there are regular tables and also a bar. Open kitchen, so you can see all of the staff at work.
I know people who will wait 30 minutes or more to dine here. Not sure why — maybe for the allure of the place. The food is good, and the experience is nice (Great staff! Really, awesome folks work here). But, really… a 30-​minute+ wait? Um, no.
Anyway, I’m still a fan.
Don’t let the appearance scare you away. The food isn’t swimming in fat. But it’s not light either. Certainly bring your appetite. It seems the omelets and the (large) pancakes are the big sellers. I love their breakfast potatoes. Perfect shape, delicious consistency with the slight charring that MAKES breakfast potatoes. In addition to breakfast, they have an extensive lunch menu. Corned beef, grilled cheese, BLT, chicken livers, burgers, soups and salads.
And they keep it simple here. Nothing too frilly or fancy on the menu.

Bobo’s is one of my favorite breakfast places in Tucson. I would give it 5 stars for the food, but the atmosphere is more like 2 or 3 stars. The restaurant is really small and old and because the kitchen is in the same area as all the tables it can get hot. It’s also extremely loud.
However, the food makes up for it! It has a home cooked meal type of feel to it, and the portions are huge (especially the pancakes). The huevos rancheros are really good, although they’re not prepared the typical way, but they’re still amazing! The pancakes (particularly the banana pancakes) are some of the best pancakes I’ve ever had! And this is coming from someone who doesn’t usually like pancakes. I mean seriously, I could eat the banana pancake plain with no syrup and it’s still the best pancake I’ve ever had. The service is great and the food comes out quick.
Overall this place is really great!

A classic greasy spoon/​diner with fantastic apple fritters. So much food for the money. It’s not exactly gourmet, but it is delicious!

Bobo’s has one of, if not the most, unique takes on the pancake in Tucson. Aside from being super thick and bigger than their standard serving plate (more than enough for two), they are chock full of your desired filling (bananas, berries, pecans, chocolate chips) and painted with a sweet glaze. Truly one of a kind.
Some people may believe eggs and bacon are the same everywhere but I’ve had a lot of dry or overcooked eggs and fatty floppy bacon around town. Not at Bobo’s! The eggs were perfectly cooked and the bacon was crisp and meaty.
Home fries had delicious crusty edges and the potatoes were expertly cooked. No hard nuggets of raw or undercooked spuds in these home fries.
For some reason it was a challenge for them to get toast to the table but it eventually arrived. The staff was genuinely kind and courteous. Excellent customer service and the food came out hot. Great breakfast absolutely worth the wait.

This is a true kind of Mom and Pop’s Place. Very Americana … vanishing breed of eaterie.
All the staff was super nice.
I nailed the $ 2.99 breakfast special — easy, simple.
Ordered a cinnamon roll. Delicious — one of the best ever. The pastry is very delicate and light. Beautifully made.
The prices overall are very reasonable. Decent size parking lot.
I will go back when I am in the area. I really want to try the Huge Banana pancakes that others raved about.

This is the perfect little diner for us! We love places like these much better then Denny’s or mcfattys. We travel through this way when we head to Texas so we will be stopping on our way back ! The food was on point ! The home fries were amazing, a fat slab of ham ! Oh and my kid loved the over sized pancake!
Waitress seemed a little grumpy but she warmed up after a little while, it was only 6 am haha, GO EAT HERE YOU WONT REGRET IT

Awesome service, coffee being poured as your sitting down and they never let your mug go empty. Banana pancakes are the way to go, maybe even share it cause it’s huge, eggs and bacon are just the little sides .
No syrup needed, natural sweetness of the bananas and the sugars from them caramelize a crust like a crème brûlée.

YUMMY CHEAP diner breakfast that stays busy on weekends ALL THE WAY til closing at 2pm, luckily the wait at 1pm was only 10 minutes for us
I’d recommend saving some room and sharing the banana pancake for dessert if you can stomach it!
—banana pancake: this plate sized beauty was served warm, fluffy on the inside with portions of caramelized crust throughout MMm
—Chicken fried steak with soft eggs, home fries, and buttered wheat toast: unfortunately the home fries were nothing special BUT i was a fan of the tasty chicken fried steak. the crispy crust held up to the savory gravy
you get to choose how you want your eggs and the type of toast
NOTE: there’s a $ 1.99 early bird special before 8am if you’re up that early!