Fat Ernie’s Family Dining

If they spent some time cleaning the place this would be a really great restaurant.
Some of the absolute best American Diner food you can have.
Daily blue plate specials and daily «all you can eat» specials are always good.
Unfortunately it’s a filthy disgusting dump. BUT that doesn’t matter, fatso’s and blue hairs still come in in droves. Breakfast all day, most of the time so much food you can’t even finish.
By far the absolute WORST Ice tea ever in the history of Ice tea, period. Your spoon can stand up in it and not even touch the glass. I thinned it out 1 to 3 with water and it was back to normal Ice Tea.
Today I had not one, but two dinner guests at my table with me. Which was nice, I like company, and am lonely, but I like the kind of guests I can talk to, not 6 legs and antennas
Good luck, take a vitamin or a booster shot before you come, and a shower after you leave! You will leave fatter and probably a little happy, there is nothing healthy about anything here except the company.

I can’t remember a time this place wasn’t packed. We got the last spot in the front parking lot. The back lot is usually full as well.
Saturday night and we arrived for their infamous yardbird (aka fried chicken). The wait staff was friendly, the patrons talked to themselves and others like old friends, the coffee and tea were plentiful and even the ice water was decent.
We were not disappointed. The waitress asked if we wanted white or dark chicken. If you aren’t picky, tell the waitress whatever she brings is fine. I guarantee you will get a plate before everyone else!
I’m not sure what to call the potatoes, but I always order the thick sliced ones cooked with onions. Words can’t describe the flavor dancing in your mouth! Home fries maybe? Delicious, nonetheless!
Sure, the place is your standard hole-​in-​the-​wall, and it doesn’t look sparkling clean because it’s old and decrepit, but I’ve never had a problem with the food. I’ve been there enough times to try all of the daily specials. I’ll be back again!

Very tasty, down home cooking. Cheap prices, and packed. Chicken fried steak lunch special, good portion size, and $ 6.45 with 2 sides. Definitely a hole in the wall. Btw, they ARE open Sundays.

What a great little hole in the wall. Food was excellent! Had the pot roast the first night then came back for breakfast. Portions were great and the prices were reasonable. Would give it 5 stars but it wasn’t the cleanest place.
Would recommend to people for a good meal.

I really didn’t care for this place… I hadn’t been since I was little and thought I’d try it again. First thing first is the smell. I hope it only smelled like it did due to the fact that the day before was catfish day. The service was just ok and the food lacked any flavor other than clarified butter. FYI I ordered a simple breakfast of eggs toast hash browns and bacon. combine this with the lack of parking and it’s a No go for me!

Perhaps better suited to being called «Fat Ernies Diner,» the decrepit building still has its original diner counter, though the majority of the restaurant (and parking spaces) were occupied by booths full of folks who presumably regularly visit to take advantage of the all-​you-​can-​eat specials. Judging by his age and his plainclothes manning of the cash register, the owner is definitely not fat and probably not Ernie, but there was an older and larger bearded fellow in the kitchen that gave me hope for my meal.
What to eat? It was too late for breakfast (personally — you could always get breakfast here, regardless of the time of day), and I wasn’t feeling a burger, so I journeyed into the minefield of the expansive menu. I figured the fried chicken should be a pretty good softball, and — bonus — it was the AYCE special for the day, so they undoubtedly had many opportunities to perfect their birds before I arrived. Choice of potato was fries. Choice of vegetables was black eyed peas.
The dark meat chicken was juicy but the skin was not very well fried at all and was promptly scraped to the side of my plate. The fries were your typical Wichita Special — thick and freshly cut potatoes fried once to be soggy and limp. Black eyed peas were served warmed from the can, without so much as salt to improve things.
My meal came with a soup to start. The chicken tortilla soup was rich and creamy and got my hopes up for the rest of the meal before the cold shower of reality and grease came pouring down on me and my mouth.
Not much redeemable here, though I’m sure the standard diner breakfast foods are still alright. People were friendly. Food was cheap.

Visited for the first time last week for breakfast. My friend had been there many years ago (two name changes since then). We both had the chicken fried steak with eggs, hash browns and toast. Great value and we both thought the food was good (above average). I disagree with the comments that this place is «loud.» Even with a dining room and parking lot nearly full, we found it easy to carry on conversation without being distracted. I could mention other popular local restaurants that are much louder. Wait staff is attentive and experienced. I gave it 5 stars because it knows what a local diner is supposed to be and does it well.

I could be convinced to return.
I got an omelet here. It was a decent portion. The hash browns were a bit soggy. The flavor profile was a bit bland. Prices were decent. A lot of locals here. This was a very casual place. The neighborhood seemed a bit sketchy.

Given the restaurant was filled with locals, I am slightly surprised that there are not more Unilocal reviews. The place is a hole in the wall, but it does breakfast right. I ordred the biscuit and gravy with a poached egg a la carte. For some reason, the price ends up higher when you get the half order. I don’t know if my food was all made from scratch, that seems a rarity in ICT, but I did get a large chunk of sausage in my gravy, so at the very least they’re making an effort. I also tried the cinnamon roll, which was fine. My husband got the garden omelet, and it was filled with fresh veggies. My friend got the chicken fried steak meal, which could’ve used more flavor.
They do have daily specials, and Fridays, they have AYCE catfish, but we found out that it was catfish nuggets, which is a less enticing. the waitress did say that the fried chicken was really good there, though.
Overall, if you want solid food for a reasonable price, I’d recommend you come here.

I’ve been here for breakfast a few times and I just can’t enough of their Chicken Fried Steak. I like it better than the Country Fried Steak. The portions are big, too. The restaurant is pretty busy during breakfast but the staff has always been nice and attentive.

Homecooking at it’s finest. This «greasy» spoon has the best biscuits and gravy around town. The double cheeseburger and fries, Chicken Fried Steak, or other great meal will complete your day. Only con — PARKING is very LIMITED — but finding that spot is well worth the meal.

This is by far the best home cooked food in Wichita… The prices are a super value… and the food is plenty… I have been a fan for years if you like hot beef sands, fried chicken, meatloaf don’t miss this place. my wife asked where I wanted to eat for my bday didn’t have to think twice FAT ERNIE’S.

This is a little café located on South Hydraulic out of the way. It has about 25 tables booths and another doz. seats at the counter. They were very busy today and I found the last parking space in the lot.
I stopped by today for lunch because I had heard that their ½ lb Gourmet Burger was very good. I ordered it and fries and a Pepsi, No Pepsi, only coke products, so I ordered tea. The burger came in about 10 min and had onion, tomato, and chopped lettuces on the side of the plate. The Bun was small and the meat was hanging over the side a good ½″ all the way around. The burger was nice and juicy and had a good flavor. The fries were homemade and good but not crispy.
Overall I liked the burger but the bun was to small for the burger. The fries were OK but wished they were cooked longer. I liked the service and the prices were reasonable. I will go back and try the all you can eat daily specials sometime.