America's breakfasts are legendary. From eggs Benedict and pancakes to burritos, beignets, and rice bowls, the diversity of dishes on offer is so ginormous that you could live off breakfast for the rest of your days and never be bored. Whether you’re looking for a quick coffee and croissant before work, feeling hungry after a long night shift, or rounding off an indulgent weekend, here’s where to get the best breakfast near you.
Open from the crack of dawn, Greg’s Breakfast Bar – and its big breakfast plates – has a legion of loyal followers. Choose from options like juicy rib-eye steaks, crispy salmon croquettes, pork chops, Conecuh sausages (a brand of hickory sausage), and baloney, served with scrambled eggs, rice or grits, and toast. Ex-football coach Greg has a big presence, so you’ll probably get a chance to chat to the man behind the menu.
Alaskan breakfast spot Snow City Cafe has been feeding happy customers in downtown Anchorage since 1998. It's known for its house versions of classic dishes, such as 'Oscar Style' eggs Benedict with poached eggs, tomato, snow crab, and béarnaise sauce, and stuffed French toast made with baguette, berry cream cheese, toasted walnuts, berry butter, and syrup.
Hip brunch spot Prep & Pastry has the weekday crowds hooked on its fancy coffees and pastries, while the weekenders pile in for cocktails and creative brunch dishes. Standouts include the Cast Iron Duck Confit, featuring braised duck, cherries, over-easy eggs, potatoes, and goats’ cheese mousse, and the Monte Cristo: a ham, Swiss cheese, and pineapple-jalapeño mascarpone French toast sandwich.
Never had a breakfast banh mi or a 'shiitake benny'? These are just two of the unusual, but extremely popular, breakfast choices at the community-focused Root Cafe. The former is modeled on the Vietnamese sandwich and features scrambled eggs (or tofu), carrot and radish pickles, jalapeños, cilantro, garlic mayo, hoisin, and sriracha in a baguette. The latter is a spin on eggs Benedict with grilled shiitake mushrooms, greens, and feta thrown in. Customers insist it’s a place worth shouting about.
The home of delicious Millionaire’s Bacon – the thickest, chewiest pork rashers you’ve ever tasted, slow-cooked in sugar and spicy peppers – Sweet Maple is a stylish neighborhood hangout. Recent menu additions include Korean fried rice topped with a fried egg and bacon, and SM Omurice, a dish of scrambled eggs served with rib-eye, spinach, potato, jasmine rice, and pan sauce, inspired by a Japanese omelet and rice dish.
A cute breakfast and lunch place with a menu that reflects a number of diverse cultural influences, Onefold has two locations – one in Uptown, and one in Union station. Its breakfast burrito is a hearty tortilla stuffed with scrambled eggs, Mexican cheese, duck fat-fried potatoes, pork green chili, and bacon, chorizo, or sausage. The congee, a savory rice porridge topped with duck confit, a poached egg, scallions, ginger and chili oil, will keep you full until lunch.
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Lakeside Diner is a quaint 1950s grill that opens its doors at 6am to draw in the 'before-work' crew. Customers recommend the 'Jason' omelet with Cheddar, corned beef, onion, and peppers, plus the home fries, fresh donuts, and pancake stacks. With big windows overlooking a tranquil duck pond, it's a superb place to start your day in Stamford.
One for the early risers, Helen’s Sausage House opens shop at 4am to begin slinging its iconic sandwiches, which are up there with the best in America. Helen's famous breakfast dogs feature two exceptionally good sausage links, plus a fried egg and melted cheese, in a bun. What’s more, this quirky roadside restaurant's interior has a strong Elvis Presley theme.
Since opening in 2017, Marlene’s Original Breakfast Sandwich, a food truck with outdoor seating and a selection of seriously good egg-based sammies, has caused quite a buzz. Customers can’t get enough of 'The Special', featuring kielbasa, Gouda, a fried egg, herbs, and spicy mayo in a Cuban baguette. However, everything on the menu gets good reviews, so you can't go wrong.
The food at Southern-style breakfast and lunch spot Atlanta Breakfast Club is described by customers as phenomenal. Dishes such as well-seasoned, crispy fried chicken with Belgian waffles and syrup, and the huge peach cobbler French toast, along with the party atmosphere (think DJs and mimosas), add up to long, but worth it, wait times. Visit in the week or early in the day – it might be a little less busy.
Fans of sweet pastries will be in heaven at Leonard’s Bakery, which dates all the way back to the 1950s. Its specialty is malasadas: Portuguese fried donuts with a golden, crispy exterior and soft, fluffy center. Customers love that they’re served hot and fresh, coated in cinnamon sugar and filled with fruit-flavored cream. Great for the early risers, it’s open from 5.30am onwards.
Everyone knows the place to go when you’re in need of a strong coffee and hearty breakfast in Boise is the bustling Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro. The extensive menu includes frittatas, smoked salmon hash, pancake stacks, and Andalusian eggs (poached eggs with marinara, chorizo, and peppers). Plus, you can customize almost anything with extra toppings. It’s totally worth the wait time,
Inspiring rave reviews, hearty American breakfasts are what Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe is about. At its four outposts throughout the state, the top choices are the classic eggs Benedict, which comes with thick slices of real ham, homemade Hollandaise, and a side of hash browns, and the Mexicana skillet, an overloaded pan of hash browns, cheese, chorizo, jalapeños, avocado, and eggs your way.
A smart breakfast and lunch spot that's been open since 1989, Cafe Patachou is buzzing all days of the week. Looking for a light bite? Check out the thick, buttery wholewheat toast sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. In the mood for something heavier? Go with the Cuban Breakfast, a fresh dish featuring a fried egg, Cheddar, avocado, sour cream, and spinach-jalapeño pesto over rice and beans.
Loud and colorful, The Breakfast Club lends itself both to casual breakfast meetings and weekend brunches alike. Its busy menu is full of indulgent choices like a huge, juicy beef burger with ham, bacon, Gouda, and a fried egg (called the Rise and Shine), loaded hash browns, and bacon and egg tacos. Its cocktail menu is equally striking, and features a drinks flight that includes a peach Bellini, watermelon Mimosa, and Piña Colada.
Customers love the tiny Ladybird Diner in student-centric Lawrence because its most basic dishes, such as avocado toast, are made exciting with high quality ingredients. Local sourdough is topped with mashed avocado, two eggs how you like them, marinated heirloom tomatoes, pickled onions, olives, orange zest, and herbs. Need we say more?
No ordinary fast casual restaurant, DV8 Kitchen is an enterprise that offers second chance employment to people in the early stages of substance abuse recovery – and the quality of the food and service is second to none. It’s known for its cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting, and its Orange Marmalade Chicken breakfast sandwich, made with fried chicken tenders doused in honey butter and orange marmalade. It's got some amazing reviews.
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It’s hard to separate out the genuinely good restaurants from the tourist traps in New Orleans but, once you’ve visited Ruby Slipper, you'll be glad you persevered. Its specialties include shrimp and grits (shrimp is sautéed with pork, peppers, and onions in a buttery beer sauce and served over creamy grits), and the best biscuits and gravy customers claim to have ever tasted. It’s so popular, you have to add your name to a waiting list even during the week.
Old-fashioned establishment Bayside American Cafe is as much known for its outstanding service as its carefully crafted breakfast plates. Think: eggs Benedict with smoked sausage, homemade corn cakes, poached eggs, and spicy Hollandaise, and giant cinnamon bun pancakes. Brunch runs from 7am until 2pm, which is early enough to fit in a bite before work.
Customers can’t stop talking about the quality of the breakfast at Miss Shirley’s Cafe. Its Coconut Cream Stuffed French Toast, made with challah and brûlée bananas, has even appeared on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Meanwhile, its Southern Slammer Sandwich with fried green tomato, smoked bacon, smashed avocado, Cheddar, and a fried egg on pumpernickel has been called the best in America multiple times. It has three locations in Baltimore, and one in Annapolis.
At Good Friends Cafe, a tiny local diner in West Dennis, everything is memorable, from the homemade bread to the Hollandaise sauce. The shaved steak omelet (with three eggs, onion, pepper, mushroom, and American cheese) and the eggs Benedict dishes are winning orders. The service also goes above and beyond – customers are offered free mugs of coffee as they wait. Please note, it’s cash only.
When you want fast, friendly service and to eat alone at the bar, stopping for breakfast at the cool-without-trying-too-hard Dime Store is a no-brainer. The 'Bennys' (the restaurant's name for eggs Benedict), range from cheesesteak to spinach, tomato, avocado, and mushroom, and include a huge portion of breakfast potatoes, and the light and fluffy omelets are great orders too. Past customers say the place is a must-try.
The omelets at Hen House Eatery, a much-loved breakfast restaurant in Minneapolis, are something to behold. The namesake Hen House Omelet is filled with chicken sausage, hash browns, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella, then it's topped with creamy béchamel – yet it still feels light and crunchy thanks to the odd-but-delicious inclusion of apples, almonds, and spinach. Doesn’t take your fancy? You can also build your own.
According to locals who’ve been frequenting the brunch spot for years, the best breakfast in Oxford can be found at Big Bad Breakfast. Popular with everyone, from students to the elderly, it’s known for its Big Bad Breakfast skillet with three scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, onions, hash browns, Cheddar, and toast or a biscuit. The service is very attentive, too.
A restaurant whose hot drinks are as good as its food, Songbird knows what it’s doing when it comes to coffee. Meanwhile, its 'The Combo' breakfast sandwich – featuring aged Cheddar, smoked bacon, a poached egg, and honey inside toasted sourdough – has something of a cult following. The breakfast tamale with Mexican cheese, black beans, shishito peppers, cilantro, sour cream, blistered cherry tomatoes, and a fried egg is layer upon layer of flavor.
Family-owned breakfast and lunch restaurant Echo Lake Cafe, near Glacier National Park, has been around since the 1960s. The secret to its success? Nearly everything that comes out of its kitchen, from the bread to the chorizo sausage, is made in-house from scratch. The eggs Benedict with homemade Hollandaise and the huevos rancheros (fried corn tortillas topped with beans, fried eggs, tomatoey ranchero sauce, and avocado) are firm favorites. Even the coffee cake is a must-try.
At classy Midwestern breakfast spot Good Lookin’, you’ll find one of the most attractive (and tastiest) breakfast burritos you’ve ever eaten. A flour tortilla is stuffed with scrambled eggs, Cheddar, Mexican cheese, chorizo, tater tots, aioli, and salsa, toasted on the outside, then garnished with more cheese, sliced green chilies, and pink pickles. Equally stunning, the chicken fried steak is flooded in chorizo gravy and served alongside two over-easy eggs. Satisfied patrons say they’ve never had a better breakfast in their life.
Away from the strip, Mr. Mamas Breakfast and Lunch is the place locals go to eat breakfast. Think: huge, battered chicken fried steaks in sausage gravy, breakfast burritos with fresh green salsa, and sugar-dusted pancake stacks. The prices are good, the portions are huge, and some of the waitstaff have worked here since day one. It’s no wonder it inspires repeat custom.
Located on the aptly named Sugar Hill, Polly’s Pancake Parlor is a rustic diner, known for its lovely light pancakes, that has been delighting customers since 1938. Choose a batter from options such as cornmeal, buckwheat, and oatmeal, plus add-ins like chocolate chips and blueberries, or order a sampler. The real fun starts when the 'Maple Tray' arrives loaded with real maple syrup, a maple sugar shaker, and maple frosting in a squeezy bottle, at no extra charge.
If complicated coffee orders are your thing, Griot Cafe, a tranquil all-day café with Afro-Caribbean influences, is for you – your friendly barista will remember exactly how you like it. The Gri-Oat Latte (a double espresso shot, oat milk, honey, and coconut) is one of its specialties. The food is also worth visiting for, namely the pillowy Kenyan beignets filled with chocolate, and the savory chicken, fish, beef, and vegetable turnovers.
At quirky café Jimmy’s Cafe, where the walls are covered in photographs of celebrities named Jimmy, the offering is exactly what you’d expect from a New Mexican establishment. There’s huevos rancheros, breakfast enchiladas, quesadillas, and burritos, and most items incorporate a delicious, creamy green chile with just the right amount of heat.
Trendy breakfast spot Banter was made for the Instagram era with pleasing pink walls, green foliage, and food served on eclectic ceramic plates. Savory sorts should check out the Golden Folded Eggs: delicious scrambled eggs with mushrooms, high quality crispy bacon, salad, and avocado on sourdough. Dessert lovers might like to try the Nutella Stuffed French Toast, complete with berries and maple syrup.
Social enterprise Community Matters Cafe is a light and spacious restaurant that employs graduates from Charlotte's local addiction recovery program. There are some really stand-out items on the menu, including a dish called Pulled Pork Johnnycakes: cornmeal pancakes made with jalapeños, bell peppers, and corn are topped with sweet, braised pulled pork, a fried egg, scallions, and honey ginger glaze. The ingredients complement each other perfectly.
Really decent coffee is a big draw at Twenty Below Coffee Co, an industrial-chic café that ethically sources beans and roasts them in-house. Though the service is a little slow, it also offers delicious breakfast plates. Customers love the toasts loaded with mozzarella, prosciutto, herbs, poached eggs, and other accoutrements, as well as the fresh cakes and pastries.
Modern Maplewood Kitchen and Bar is a brightly lit, ultra-casual restaurant where you order at the counter and seat yourself. It’s open all day, but it's particularly good for breakfast. The lemon ricotta pancakes with seasonal fruit, berry compote, maple syrup, and grass-fed butter are highly recommended, and the avocado Benedict, which has sliced avocado in place of salmon, is another popular punt.
Looking for a big cowboy breakfast? Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, one of the oldest continuously operating joints in the state, opens its doors at 6am. There are omelets, hot cakes, Texas toast, and French toast, but the real star of the show here is the steak and eggs, which comes with hash browns and buttered toast or a biscuit. Choose your cut from T-bone, rib-eye, sirloin, or filet mignon. Inexpensive and with generous portion sizes, this place is Oklahoma City’s best-kept secret.
Open nice and early, Cheryl’s on 12th is a charming café owned by the incredibly passionate Cheryl and Ed Casey. Its signature and most-ordered dish is the Portuguese Fried Rice with linguica sausage (an Italian chili and smoke-cured sausage), avocado, and scallions. Visually, it looks divine – and, taste-wise, it has just the right amount of spice.
A fan favorite, Sabrina’s Café is a cool and quirky brunch restaurant with a vintage feel – thanks to the wavy orange and brown wallpaper – and a bright and breezy outdoor patio. At the Art Museum outpost, the colossal Cannoli French Toast with challah, cannoli cream, wild berry sauce, whipped cream, and crunchy cannoli crumbles is the top hitter.
Parisian-inspired bakery Ellie’s keeps itself well-stocked with what are probably the best croissants in Rhode Island, as well as what’s definitely some of the best monkey bread in the whole of the USA. Plus, Ellie’s signature egg and cheese breakfast sandwich is set off by the most flavorful tomato jam. If you have a big appetite, add bacon, sausage, smashed avocado, a second egg, or greens for an extra cost.
The giant fried chicken biscuit with pimento cheese and pepper jam from clean, bright, American-style brunch restaurant Millers All Day is something to behold. Firstly, it’s huge – the size of a regular sandwich rather than a biscuit – and secondly, the chicken is hand breaded and well seasoned for an intense flavor. Everyone who orders it says it’s amazing.
Pizza isn't usually our first thought in the morning, but Josiah’s Breakfast Flatbread, from the laid back, farmhouse-style Josiah’s Coffeehouse and Cafe, is essentially just that. Similar to Turkish pide, an oval shaped flatbread is loaded with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, bacon, roasted red peppers, and scallions, and customers love it. The coffee is also said to be good.
Trendy brunch spot Milk & Honey is absolutely worth the hype. Customers rave about the friendly service, and if there’s a line for tables, there’s a digital waitlist that shows you how many tables are in front of you. The menu features pastries, shareable salads, and fancy meat and cheese-topped sourdough toasts. One of the favorites is the 'Hot Mess', a bacon and egg biscuit with avocado, pickled red onion, hot pepper jam, chipotle cream, and cheese. The fresh juices and coffee are also superb.
Thinking of visiting Canadian-owned Maple Leaf Diner? Make sure you have an appetite. Its chicken and waffles, which have appeared in the press many times, arrive at the table stacked into a tower with crisp bacon, strawberries, whipped cream, and cream puffs. Alternatively, order a few dishes and share.
For finger licking French toast and a plate-sized pancake sandwich filled with fried eggs and bacon, visit The Park Café, a neighborhood breakfast spot located in Liberty Park. Besides its unbeatable, no-frills breakfast plates, the location is idyllic and was just made for an early morning or weekend stroll.
The quaintest New England breakfast place you’ve ever seen, Up For Breakfast’s dining room is reached by heading up a set of stairs as if entering someone’s home. Inside, you’ll find a yellow-walled café that looks like it hasn’t been renovated since the 90s. Long-time favorites include French toast, eggs Benedict, and pancakes with a side of blueberry venison sausage. Make sure you save room for the delectable strawberry rhubarb scones.
The resounding winner of the cutest tea room in Virginia is The Bee & The Biscuit. The menu is bursting with breakfast favorites including sirloin steak and eggs, crab Benedict, and mascarpone-stuffed orange and challah French toast. Plus, it has interesting lattes such as the Honey lavender and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and mimosa flights for those looking to get a little tipsy.
Guests of the charming, red-bricked Fat Hen are fanatical about it. The eggs Benedict, with a choice of crab, smoked salmon, pancetta, Black Forest ham, or avocado, comes with a side of crispy smashed fingerling potatoes, and the yolk is served perfectly soft. Meanwhile, the Sweet Toast with ricotta, marmalade, and crushed pink peppercorns on sourdough is a perfect light snack.
Located in a charming wooden house just up the hill from Main Street, Fayetteville favorite Wood Iron Eatery is known for its bohemian vibes and brilliant breakfasts. On the menu you'll find mouth-watering dishes like burritos, sandwiches, chilaquiles, and an incredible creation called Loaded Napoleon D Tots: tater tots piled high with avocado, scallions, aioli, candied bacon, and sour cream. Customers say it's a transcendent experience.
The ultimate breakfast joint, Mad Rooster Cafe has got everything. From frittatas and omelettes to waffles, pancakes, skillets, and scrambles, you name it, it’s on the menu. Looking to try something different? Check out the customer favorite: chilaquiles. A traditional Mexican breakfast food, it features fresh corn tortilla chips topped with salsa, jack cheese, Cheddar, eggs your way, and skirt steak.
Glamorous Persephone Bakery is the place to go for a good breakfast in Wyoming. A James Beard Foundation Award semi finalist, the café serves an indulgent croissant breakfast sandwich with two eggs, Gruyère (a hard Swiss cheese), your choice of ham, bacon, or heirloom tomato, plus Dijon aioli, which regularly receives the highest of praise. It also has a good variety of espresso drinks and cocktails.
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