Breakfast, burgers & small-town favorites in the heart of Sanborn.
Jay's Restaurant & Lounge has been Northwest Iowa's hometown gathering place for generations — hearty breakfasts, fresh-ground burgers, USDA choice steaks, Friday-night prime rib, and our famous Colossal Soup & Salad Bar.
A Sanborn restaurant built on good food & good company.
At Jay's, we believe great food starts with consistency, generous portions, and welcoming service. From local farmers and families to travelers passing through town, Jay's continues to be a favorite stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Located in the heart of Sanborn, Iowa, we've built our reputation on classic Midwestern comfort food served fresh every day — in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere where everybody knows your order.
- Fresh-ground burgers
- Homestyle breakfasts
- Broasted chicken
- Prime rib weekends
- Friday fish specials
- Homemade soups & salads
A different reason to stop in every night.
From Tuesday sirloin to Friday fish to Sunday brunch — the lineup that keeps Northwest Iowa coming back.
Sirloin Steak Plate
Grilled 8 oz. center-cut choice sirloin with potato, one side and Texas toast. 18.99
Six-ounce ribeye, served open-faced on grilled Texas toast with one side. 15.99
Add Colossal Soup & Salad Bar 4.99
Thin-sliced prime rib stacked on a grilled nine-inch hoagie bun, served with au jus.
Sandwich only 16.99 · Side or salad bar 18.99 · Side & salad bar 20.99
Italian Night
All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti 16.99 · Spaghetti Dinner 12.99 · Lasagna Rollup 12.99
All come with garlic toast and one trip to the Colossal Soup & Salad Bar.
All-You-Can-Eat Broasted Chicken
With one trip to the Colossal Soup & Salad Bar and one side. 14.99
Six for $9 with your choice of sauce.
All-You-Can-Eat Alaskan Pollock
Mild pollock fillets — broiled or freshly battered — with one trip to the Colossal Soup & Salad Bar and one side. 15.99
Prime Rib
Fresh Iowa ribeye, delicately seasoned and slow-cooked in our special prime rib ovens. Three cuts:
12 oz. 29.99 · 14 oz. 34.99 · 16 oz. 39.99
Served 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Available 10:00 am to 1:30 pm.
What Sanborn says about Jay's.
★★★★★"Best prime rib in Northwest Iowa, no contest. We drive in from Sheldon every other Friday and it's worth every mile. The salad bar alone could be a meal."
★★★★★"Stopped in for breakfast on a Tuesday morning and ended up staying for two refills of coffee. Steak and eggs were cooked perfect, the hash browns were crispy, and everyone there is friendly."
★★★★★"Took my whole farm crew here for lunch after harvest and they treated us like family. Burgers were fresh, portions were huge, and the bill was reasonable. We'll be back."
Frequently asked questions.
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Does Jay's serve breakfast all day?
Yes. Jay's Restaurant & Lounge serves all-day breakfast Monday through Thursday, with the full breakfast menu available from open to close. Friday through Sunday, breakfast is served during morning hours.
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When is prime rib served at Jay's?
Prime rib is served Friday and Saturday evenings. Fresh Iowa ribeye is slow-cooked in our prime rib ovens and offered in 12 oz. ($29.99), 14 oz. ($34.99), and 16 oz. ($39.99) cuts — each served with one trip to the Colossal Soup & Salad Bar and your choice of side.
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Does Jay's have a salad bar?
Yes. Jay's features the Colossal Soup & Salad Bar with fresh greens, homemade salads, soup selections, and classic comfort-food sides like potato salad, macaroni salad, pea salad, and Jell-O & fluff. It's available as a meal all by itself ($11.99) or as a one-trip add-on to any entrée ($4.99).
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Where is Jay's Restaurant & Lounge located?
Jay's Restaurant & Lounge is located at 120 W 7th St, Sanborn, Iowa 51248 — in the heart of downtown Sanborn. Call (712) 930-3886 for reservations or to-go orders.
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What are Jay's hours?
Kitchen hours are 6 am–2 pm on Monday, 6 am–2 pm and 4 pm–9 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and 8 am–1:30 pm on Sunday. The bar stays open until close Monday through Saturday.
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What are Jay's most popular menu items?
Customer favorites include the weekend prime rib, broasted chicken, fresh-ground burgers like Terry's Special and Deb's Special, omelets, sirloin steak dinners, and the Friday all-you-can-eat Alaskan pollock.
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Does Jay's have weekly specials?
Yes. Weekly specials include Italian Night on Wednesday, all-you-can-eat broasted chicken on Thursday, Friday fish night, prime rib Friday and Saturday, and a Sunday brunch buffet.
Get in touch with Jay's.
Call ahead for reservations, group dining, or to-go orders — or send us a message and we'll get back to you during business hours.