While also a 24-hour Greek diner, this place offers an entirely different people-watching experience from Lester’s.  It is a favorite last stop for Wilton Manors revelers after a night of bar hopping, meaning that you may catch a potpourri of club kids, drag queens, and even some leather-clad macho guys enjoying some pancakes or a nicely charred burger and steak fries.  There is also a separate full liquor bar in the back if you want to keep the party going.    

Like many old-school diners, this breakfast and lunch spot in Davie is a family-run operation, and Ally herself does all the cooking with her mom, husband, and kids when it gets busy on the weekends.  Expect all the classics, plus its famous huge pancakes made with anything from chocolate chips to pecans.  

This 24-hour Greek diner has several locations throughout South Florida, but its Marina Mile outpost is perhaps the most iconic.  Its location near the airport and seaport mean that everyone from flight crew to truckers end up.  Their Greek specialties should not be missed, including a sampler big enough for two to share, and you should save room for one of its mile-high cakes.    

While many diners in South Florida occupy a strip mall space or a non-descript building, Jack’s is one of the few that looks like what you’d imagine a diner to appear.  The 24-hour Hollywood mainstay has been in business for over 60 years, and you can taste the secret to its long-lasting success.  Its gyro omelet is particularly noteworthy, and Jack’s offers a pretty exceptional meatloaf, too.    

Night owls can find sustenance at this 24-hour diner with two locations in Hallandale Beach and Davie. This old Hollywood-themed diner offers most of the classics and a selection of sandwiches named after celebrities.  A few Greek specialties and even more upscale options like steaks, chops, and seafood round out the menu if you want to treat yourself.

While Broward seems to have the lion’s share of Greek diners in South Florida, Miami certainly won’t let itself fall off the map.  This Miami Gardens hidden gem serves up solid Greek standards along with American comfort classics.  Its signature sandwich, Yanni’s Favorite, is certainly a draw: grilled rye bread stuffed with pastrami, sauteed veggies, hot sauce, and melted Swiss cheese.    

It’s good to know that even in one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, one can still get a taste of old Miami with a plate of banana pancakes or a patty melt.  This MiMo diner was actually featured in the Academy Award-winning film, Moonlight.  On top of having a solid menu and comfortable retro digs, they also openly embrace the diversity of their community – pretty cutting-edge for such an old-school place.

This Miami Springs institution occupies a corner of an oh-so-Miami art deco-style building.  Die-hard cafecito enthusiasts can get their fix of Cuban coffee here to accompany any of its breakfast specialties or to wash down a Salisbury steak or one of the diner’s creative salads.    

Three Southwest Miami locations provide diners with stick-to-your-ribs breakfasts with a Southern bent, such as biscuits and gravy and country-fried steak and eggs.  Diners can also skip the eggs and order a country-fried steak with vegetables and cornbread from its lunch menu, which also includes a selection of sandwiches and burgers.  

This Palmetto Bay diner has been around since the 1970s; its history dates back even farther to the original Walter’s Coffee Shop in Long Island, New York.  The racecar-themed restaurant features a wide selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner standards with original names, so look at the descriptions to know exactly what you’re getting.  This is also an excellent place to get southern breakfast dishes like salmon croquettes and grits.