Breakfast restaurants in North America
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A
Eggs 'n Things
Never empty, this bustling diner specializes in hearty breakfast fare, from thick pancakes done up with whip cream to steak and eggs. The odd hours reflect its clientele, early morning tourists, graveyard shift workers and post-clubbers.
reviewed
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B
Brother Juniper's
Trek down to the University of Memphis for a straight-up good eatin' Southern-style breakfast in a kid-friendly joint. Omelets, biscuits and grits oh my!
reviewed
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C
ReBar
This place fuses colorful interiors with a clever, mostly vegetarian menu, but carnivores will be just as happy noshing here. It’s a good weekend brunch spot.
reviewed
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D
Paul’s Place Omelettery
You’ll be jostling for space with strollers and chatty moms at this unassuming breakfast joint near the south side of Granville Bridge, but it’s worth it: this cozy place is far superior to most city bacon-and-egg spots. The menu is short and sweet, but it’s grounded on 12 signature omelets, including a chockablock vegetarian option that will make carnivores eye you jealously. It’s a great place to start the day before a wander down to Granville Island, but there’s also a lunch menu of house-made burgers and sandwiches.
reviewed
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E
Hoito Restaurant
You’ll think you’ve stumbled into a staff cafeteria in Finland – in fact, that’s how the Hoito started, providing affordable meals to Finnish bushworkers. This Thunder Bay institution serves breakfast until 7:30pm, and lunch starts at 10:45am – though you’ll probably just want to eat the notorious flattened pancakes around the clock. Don’t forget to wish the Hoito a happy birthday – the restaurant celebrated 100 years in 2010, though we don’t think it looks a day over 75…
reviewed
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F
Lou Mitchell’s
A relic of old Route 66 (it’s located a few blocks west of the road’s starting point), Lou’s coffee shop brings in elbow-to-elbow tourists for breakfast. The omelets hang off the plates, and the fluffy flapjacks and crisp waffles are prepared with practiced perfection. Cups of coffee are bottomless, just like the charm of the old-school waiters, who hand out free treats (doughnut holes, ice cream, Milk Duds) to young and old alike.
reviewed
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G
Beth’s Café
The best – or at least biggest – hangover breakfast in the world is at Beth’s, and you can get it all day long. Key words: all-you-can-eat hash browns. You can’t smoke in here anymore, which, depending on your view, either ruins everything or makes it possible to enjoy Beth’s infamous 12-egg omelet while breathing. Feel free to contribute a piece of scribbled artwork to the wall, preferably one that’s strongly pro- or anti-pirate.
reviewed
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H
Floyd's Diner
A funky eatery with an ultrafriendly vibe, Floyd's combines a sun-drenched patio, warming blood-red interior and a menu of serious comfort food - it's the spot to recover from a throbbing hangover. Along with the all-day breakfast menu (try the 'Elton', a heaping bowl of fruit, yogurt and honey), there are some bulging burgers and sandwiches and a great lunch deal: an around C$6 bottomless bowl of soup.
reviewed
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I
Huey's 24/7 Diner
For top-notch breakfast chow anytime of day or night, Huey's your place. It's a tad fancier than a traditional diner, with a huge menu to match. If you aren't up for gut-busting omelette platters, you can drop in for a thick burger or a sandwich. Huey's strays from the concept by including a full bar that never closes, so if you came here to sober up, you can always decide to get drunk again. Not a bad deal.
reviewed
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J
Griddle Café
Giant portions, friendly service and French-press coffee keep the wooden tables and U-shaped counter full all morning at this tasty breakfast joint favored by Hollywood’s young and tousled. Located just east of the dark-towered Directors Guild; look for the mobs huddled outside on weekend mornings. Arrive early.
reviewed
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Lynn's Paradise Cafe
It's breakfast anytime at this psychedelic diner, marked by the 10ft-tall teapot outside. Don't miss the homemade biscuits with sorghum butter, or the Hot Brown sandwich, a Louisville classic invented in the 1920s at the Brown Hotel.
reviewed
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K
Hash House a Go Go
This buzzing bungalow makes biscuits and gravy straight outta Carolina, towering benedicts, large-as-your-head pancakes and, of course, hash seven different ways. Come hungry.
reviewed
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Cafe Fanny
North of University Ave is this café owned by Alice Waters. As you'd expect, it serves excellent cafés au lait, homemade pastries and poached-egg dishes.
reviewed
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Zachary’s
The breakfast spot covetous locals don’t want you to know about (hide your guidebook). ‘Mike’s Mess’ is the kitchen-sink standout.
reviewed
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Café Azul
Open all day, this Swiss-run scene is perfect for breakfasts, snacks and light meals including excellent sweet and savory crepes.
reviewed
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N
Nellie's Kitchen
Nellie's has long been a favorite place to start the day, catch up with friends and attempt to quell a hangover. Awesome big breakfasts, bottomless coffee and funky style are the hallmarks of this 17th Ave stalwart. Nellie's is a growing empire these days, but the original is still the best.
reviewed
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O
Aromas
A second home for some of Matamoros’ artists and intellectuals, this hip restaurant features avant-garde paintings on exposed brick walls and an intimate garden patio, where you can enjoy breakfasts (M$15 to M$60), spinach salads, fruity crepes, and well-executed main dishes including pastas and seafood. Prices are generally high, but the comida corrida (M$55), which includes soup, drink and dessert, is a great deal. The bar area upstairs, with modern booths, is perfect cocktail-quaffing territory and has live trova at weekends and jazz and other chill sounds on the stereo weekdays.
reviewed
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P
Bardia’s
We have it on good authority (a bunch of stoners stumbling out of B&K newsstand; the next door head shop that’s one of DC’s most notorious pipe shops) that this New Orleans–style cafe is the best cure for munchies in town. But that stereotype’s a disservice; Bardia’s food – the po’ boys, the breakfasts and especially the beignets – is fantastic whatever your mental state. If you’ve lived in New Orleans (and yes, this author has) the stuff stacks up to the real thing: rich, silky luxurious, silly decadent, and while the setting isn’t as attractive as Faubourg Marginy, it’s pretty damn close.
reviewed
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Café Pasqual’s
Make reservations for dinner if you’d like, but definitely wait in line to enjoy the famous breakfasts. We highly recommend huevos motuleños ($12), made with eggs and black beans, sautéed bananas, feta cheese and more; tamale dulce ($12), a sweet corn tamale with fruit, beans and Mexican chocolate; or the enormous Durango ham-and-cheese omelet ($13). They’re all served up in a festive, if crowded, interior. Grab a seat faster by sitting at the community table, where tourists and locals mix it up daily.
reviewed
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Bluebird Café
Often packed with locals and staff from nearby hospitals, the Bluebird's calling card is breakfast. The menu goes beyond the traditional eggs and grits combos. The huevos rancheros are a spicy Mexican repast, and the 'powerhouse eggs' dish contains nutritional yeast, tamari and cheese. The Bluebird is also known for its malted pancakes and Belgian waffles. For lunch, sandwiches (burgers, vegie melts and BLTs) are available. Usually you'll wait for a table. Cash only.
reviewed
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Yolk
Slinking into one of the custom booths at this cheerful diner is worth the long wait – you’ll dig into the best traditional breakfast in the South Loop. The omelets include lots of healthy options (the Iron Man is made from egg whites and comes loaded with veggies and avocado), and sweets lovers have stacks of cinnamon-roll French toast and peach-cobbler crepes to drench in syrup. Scores of big salads and burgers are on hand for those inclined to order lunch.
reviewed
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Chez Clo
Homey atmosphere and good-value Québécois breakfasts have made this corner diner an institution for the best part of two decades. Slide onto a breakfast stool and order eggs, bacon, baked beans and cretons (pork drippings) or return for Québec specialties such as tourtière (meat pie), poutine or ragoût de boulettes, all in view of the monumental Nativité de la Ste-Vierge church.
reviewed
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Zazie
Zazie's narrow skylighted dining room and overgrown back garden is about as pleasant a spot for breakfast or lunch as you could find. Eggs, fluffy pancakes (with batter left to rise overnight) and gourmet sandwiches are the order of the daytime. It's also open for dinner, when the menu focuses on the Provençal version of comfort food - nothing spectacular, but not bad when you're shirking the kitchen.
reviewed
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Square One Dining
Breakfasts here are so darn good you’ll want to lick your square white plate. The decor’s not much but thick slabs of bacon, fluffy egg dishes and unbleached heirloom grits confirm the focus is where it should be. Artists, couples and business brunchers fill tables for the all-organic menu, but for a different view, grab a window seat and watch the buttoned-down faithful at the nearby Scientology complex.
reviewed
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Demitasse
This art school-style hang-out is where local grunge geeks come to sup endless cups of coffee and compare their latest Value Village purchases. It's very laid-back, with high-ceilings and old wooden tables. The food is chunky, fresh and satisfying but never gets much further than great soups, wraps and sandwiches - simple, satisfying food done well: check out the banana bread French toast breakfast.
reviewed
