Best Breakfast Restaurants in Downtown LA (90012)
8 hand-picked restaurants, AI-analyzed and critic-validated
Notable Picks
A Chinatown standby for New Orleans-style mornings, especially if you’re chasing beignets and coffee. The counter-service setup stays casual, but the flavors run deep and comforting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beignets, Shrimp po’boy (brunch-friendly), Crawfish mac and cheese
What makes it special: NOLA breakfast classics with major local follow-through.
8.1
A bright, mission-driven café in Chinatown serving hearty breakfast plates with a light, healthy tilt. Expect well-executed classics, welcoming service, and a community vibe that keeps locals coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sunny-side eggs with potatoes and toast, Chile relleno grilled cheese, Carnitas tacos (breakfast-adjacent)
What makes it special: Great breakfast with a real neighborhood mission behind it.
#3
Azay
8.0
A Little Tokyo café where French technique meets Japanese breakfast culture in a small, family-run setting. Come for the bento-style morning tray, stay for the quietly excellent French-leaning lunch plates that keep locals returning.
Must-Try Dishes:
Japanese Breakfast Set, Croque Monsieur, Salmon Tartare
What makes it special: Rare French–Japanese cooking focused on breakfast and lunch.
#4
Nick's Cafe
8.0
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Comfort Food Classics
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Old-school diner comfort that’s steady, generous, and exactly what you want before a day downtown. Expect griddle classics, brisk pacing, and a loyal morning crowd.
Must-Try Dishes:
Corned Beef Hash & Eggs, Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, Biscuits & Gravy
What makes it special: Reliable classic LA diner breakfast with big portions.
Worthy Picks
#5
Cafe Dulce
7.9
Part coffee bar, part bakery, Cafe Dulce pairs strong espresso with a rotating case of donuts and pastries that feel very Little Tokyo. It’s a small, lively stop that works equally well for a quick sugar fix or a casual hang.
Must-Try Dishes:
Green Tea Donut, Sausage Donut, Blueberry Matcha Latte + Pastry
What makes it special: Signature mochi-adjacent donuts and matcha-leaning pastry culture.
7.8
A low-key Historic Core counter spot where breakfast is fast, fresh, and reliably satisfying. The menu leans classic—burritos, sandwiches, waffles—done with care and strong coffee.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast burrito, Breakfast sandwich, Waffles with crispy potatoes
What makes it special: Dependable all-morning breakfast in the heart of downtown.
7.7
A Little Tokyo deli that doubles as a morning stop for simple, filling breakfasts before the neighborhood wakes up. Expect straightforward execution, big portions, and a classic counter-service rhythm.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, Breakfast burrito, Reuben (for brunchy appetites)
What makes it special: Old-school deli breakfast that’s fast and satisfying.
7.6
A semi-hidden Chinatown kissaten-style café that brings Japanese egg sandos and nostalgic coffee drinks into a sunlit, vintage room. It’s more of a coffee-breakfast hybrid than a full diner, but the concept is thoughtful and the morning bites are dialed in.
Must-Try Dishes:
Japanese egg sando on milk bread, Strawberry sesame latte, Kissa soda float
What makes it special: A new-school Japanese kissaten tucked off Spring Street.