Cafe & Bakery

Em’s Cafe

A 75-year-old family cafe with a cult following, just south of the Utah line

(60)

Fredonia, AZ

About

Em’s Cafe sits just south of the Utah line in Fredonia, a small family-run spot that’s been serving the area for 75 years and has built a loyal following well beyond the town’s size — it holds a 4.8-star rating from regulars and highway travelers alike. It’s an easy add-on stop if you’re staying in Kanab or heading toward the North Rim on Highway 89A, and more than one visitor has admitted to detouring back for it every single day of a trip.

What to get

Breakfast croissants — reviewers call them the best breakfast sandwich they’ve had anywhere
The Roasted Beef French Dip, made with real slow-roasted beef, not deli meat
Turkey and provolone panini on house-made sourdough
Maple nut cookies and a Butterfinger frozen coffee to go

The menu runs sandwiches, paninis, coffee, and baked goods, with a drive-thru and call-ahead/text ordering for a quick grab-and-go on the drive. Service can slow down during a rush when the counter, drive-thru, and phone orders all hit at once, so build in a few extra minutes if you roll in at peak breakfast or lunch hours. Em’s is closed Tuesdays; other days it opens at 7:30 AM, with an early 2 PM close Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday and a longer run to 6 PM Thursday through Saturday.

Reviews (60)

See all on Google

4.8

60 reviews

Google Reviews

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Clara Lauritzen

5 months ago

The food is amazing, and the spot is adorable and incredibly pleasant. Would be my go to if i lived there. croissants and sandwiches are a must try!11/10

Barbara

11 months ago

SO unexpectedly fantastic! Stopped for gas and my husband asked the lady about places to eat nearby. She told us the little food truck out in the parking lot was really good. Looked at the reviews and the menu and figured we’d give it a try. The Roasted Beef French Dip (not roast beef lunch meat!!) was SO delicious!! Toasted bun, real chunks of delicious, fall apart roast!! Excellent frozen Butterfinger Frozen coffees too, nice treat! Love it when we find these little places that are so unexpectedly fantastic 🤩Was not very far over the border from Kanab where we were staying!

Kerry Cosme

9 months ago

I feel like we're driving forever when we found this cute little gem in a small town great sandwiches wonderful coffee and service was amazing. We had Turkey and provolone panini press on homade sourdough She was already closed and decided to stay and turn on the grill for us again she was so accommodating sweet lady. The sandwiches were wonderful and the coffees were great.She mentioned the place had been in the family for 75 years.The place was clean and decor was so cute.Make sure to stop by when on the water to Zion.

Jennifer Proctor

3 months ago

Service was EXTREMELY slow. When we arrived there was no one there, so 3 of us placed an order, then someone else, then our 4th person (who had been getting gas). Our first person that ordered didn't get her coffee for nearly 15 minutes(the person that was in the middle of us ordered a drip coffee and after 10 minutes her and her friend just canceled their orders). In total we were there 25 minutes for 4 coffees, a burrito and a croissant. When asked what was taking so long for the coffee, the worker said they also have to Service the drive thru and text orders. Except for the 2 walk ups while we were there, we didn't see a single other person Come thru. There were 2 workers, so not sure what the delay was. 2 of our group are previous Barista's, so have a good understanding of what it takes to make the different coffees. The coffee was decent, the chocolate croissant was undercooked and doughy and the burrito was huge, but Except for the sausage, really didn't have much defining flavors. We were so excited to try this place as we were passing thru on our way the the Grand Canyon, it unfortunately came up a little short. I would probably give it a 4 for the coffee, and a 3 on the food and Service. If you come here just don't expect quick service.

TaNiesha Hamilton

8 months ago

Em’s Cafe is such a wonderful spot! The owner, Emily, was incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the experience even better. The breakfast croissant was absolutely delicious—fresh, flaky, and full of flavor. The coffee was rich and savoring, the perfect complement to the meal. On top of that, the prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. You can truly feel the care and love put into everything here. I’ll definitely be coming back! ☕🥐