Marvel Ranch

Little hidden (literally hidden) gem on Penn street! No signs or anything but it’s a cheap breakfast/​brunch spot and every time I’ve gone it’s been great! Maybe not the cleanest (the floors) place but that’s overlooked by me. I enjoy this place and every time I’ve gone the waitresses are usually friendly.

Cheap and fast. The only thing displeasing was the waitress. Maybe it was too early for her. Food was good though.

A real diner. Real food. In a real location. This is my go to spot for a hearty breakfast, especially if I’ve been out «too late» the night before.
This is NOT the place for people who like eating at a Denny’s in some mall parking lot. Stay in the ‘burbs if you can’t deal with the real.

Every time I have eaten here, I have gotten sick after. Not sure if it’s safe food handling or that they don’t clean their fryers. CHEAP food but you get what you pay for

Definitely a greasy spoon. Great place to go after a long night of drinking. Any food would be good at their prices.
. The food was good, the surroundings are not. Place is very dumpy and not the cleanest, severs were friendly. I would go back.

I have been patronizing marvel almost all my life, so about 47 years! I remember when the counter was facing the street on s. 4^th. I still go there from time to time, either by myself or with my friend Wanna. I usually do their breakfasts, the French Toast and their cottage fries are to die for. I love their burgers as well, and their daily soups are always good. Quality of food and service is 8 – 10.
And, my favorite waitress is Denise.

Awesome breakfast place. Very good food and reasonably priced. Signage isn’t awesome, we actually missed it the first time we ventured out to eat here. Get their early on the weekends because they close around noon I believe.

Great food not a bad price well worth it. Only had breakfast there & luved it now I’ll have to try their lunches too. Hint to my hubby lol. It does look a little sketchy on the outside but gotta check it out it’s clean, friendly staff, good coffee, & can’t forget about breakfast.

The Marvel Ranch is Truly Marvelous!
Unilocal *really* came thru on this one. In Reading for a Wedding and in search of a good breakfast place the morning after. Less than a mile from our Hotel was the Marvel Ranch and we never would have found it without Unilocal!
This place is the original GREASY SPOON. From the outside, you aren’t even sure what is going on inside. It could be a Halloween store, or it could be closed for refurbishing. You really can’t tell when you drive by… Unilocal directions took us right to the door so we knew it was some type of breakfast place. When the door opened however, I thought it might be some kind of soup kitchen. Dark… dirty…it looked like it could use a good cleaning along with some of the patrons. I was not deterred as I had just read the Unilocal reviews and knew what we were heading into. A foodie adventure!
We entered and stood around for a moment getting our bearings as it was bright as day outside and pretty dark inside. Seat yourself anywhere you can, there were plenty of spots available and they turn tables over quick. Menu’s are on the table… a very happy young girl came over to greet us and take our drink orders while a very nice (big and strong too) young man set us up with silver\napkins. I can’t say enough how nice everyone was… Not just the employees, but the other people in the restaurant. Everyone seemed very happy and chummy in this dingy little place hidden in plain site. It must have been contagious because we felt the same way when we got settled in!
We got a variety of breakfast items at the table… Coffee, tea, Omelette, Pancakes, Eggs scrambled, eggs over easy… Everything was good and all of us were pleased with the Marvel Ranch and will certainly stop back next time we are going thru reading! It’s just a few minutes off of 422 near 222, right in town, do yourself a favor and check it out!
Ready for some sticker shock?
Short stack pancakes 2.50
Full Stack 3.25
2 eggs with toast 2.00
Belgian Waffle 3.50
Western Omelette 3.75
I briefly considered buying breakfast for everyone in the restaurant at these prices! Our party of 4 had breakfast for 24 $, plus tip. Unheard of prices and such good food! Stop in at the Marvel Ranch next time you are looking for breakfast in Reading, you won’t be disappointed!
Check it the photo here on Unilocal and in the store, President Obama was here in 2008. Guess he uses Unilocal too!

Awesome food! Mini mess, chef salads, was not a fan of their French fried but everything else was spot on! Cheap and large portions!

I work nearby the Marvel Ranch & go most everyday for lunch… the people are SUPER here…& the main reason we go! Food good, breakfast all day… open every day… real reasonable prices!

Must certainly say the restaurant looks sketchy from the outside and in, but if your a little think skinned, and can take some a little attitude. I order a large breakfast order almost every week, and they have never let me down. From the Marvel mess, to the corned beef hash and poached eggs, all items are always done to perfection. The inside scene during lunch is fast paced and rugged, the burgers are heavenly. Best place for a cheap, filling, non health oriented meal… lol

Rude! I call for delivery & the lady was condescending! Guess they turn down deliveries? Biz is biz honey

Another Unilocal fantastic find!!! We stopped over night traveling in Reading. Woke up and searched Unilocal for a local breakfasr spot and found Marvel. A true old fashion greasey spoon with a very friendly staff. I got excellent hash & eggs and my wife got the Marvel mess (something like an everything omlet). Both were about the best we ever had. The place could use a good cleaning and new carpet!!! The grill can be seen through a window on the side street. It was Greasey, filthy and in dire need of a scrubbing. On the restroom door was a sign saying «No getting high in restroom please». Would I return? In a heartbeat, the food was sooo far over the top and the staff was so great made this one of my best finds on Unilocal.The world needs more family run places like this. If you are in the Reading area and are adventurous, this place is a must do.

This place looks like a hole in the wall… in fact you may drive by it and think it has closed down (but that’s just because it has odd hours — breakfast to lunch that’s it).
The place is always crowded but worth the wait & crowds.
Food is very good at terrific prices. The waitstaff is always upbeat and pleasant.
Love the Marvel Ranch and their mini mess is marvelous. (Now I’m hungry.)

A seedy, greasy spoon place, in a traditional sense, that’s been around for a very long time. You either know about it or you don’t because there’s not even a sign out front anymore. Before they changed the menu a few years ago, you could just order a #1, a #2 or a #3. The waitstaff still know what you’re talking about if you order one of those numbers. You could get the #3 which was two eggs scrambled, home-​fries and toast for $ 1.88. It’s hard to beat prices like that. If you want to people watch, you can’t do much better than sitting at the corner window and watching the odd batch of humanity that is Reading, Pennsylvania walk through the door.
The people who own the Marvel Ranch are very kind, and although you’d have to be a regular to know it, they take in some of the city’s down-​and-​out people and feed them for free everyday. And for that, they will always get bonus stars from me.
Barack Obama visited here in 2008.

The Classic greasy spoon. Comfort food for a stressful world. Great staff cheap prices, not the poster child of healthy eating but it all tastes phenomenal!

A Minimess with wheat toast and coffee plus tax is less than $ 5…now that’s a plan for economic recovery!