Best Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago
50 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Kasama
Two-Michelin-starred Filipino bakery-café and tasting menu under chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon.
Essential Picks
#1
Kasama
9
Kasama is a Michelin-starred bakery and modern Filipino restaurant from chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, pairing daytime pastries and counter service with a reservation-only tasting menu at night. Locals line up for carefully made breakfast plates and pastries, then treat the evening menu as a special-occasion splurge that has reshaped how Filipino food is perceived in Chicago.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mushroom adobo, Longanisa breakfast sandwich, House croissants
What makes it special: Two-Michelin-starred Filipino bakery-café and tasting menu under chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon.
Notable Picks
#2
Lula Cafe
8.8
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Lula Cafe is Logan Square’s original market-driven cafe, long praised for seasonal plates, thoughtful brunch, and a menu with plenty of gluten-free-friendly options clearly marked. It’s a go-to for celiac-aware diners who still want creative cooking, strong coffee, and an always-busy neighborhood room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pasta Yiayia, Lula Breakfast Burrito, Baked French Feta
What makes it special: Pioneer Logan Square cafe with a deep track record of seasonal, often gluten-free-friendly cooking and an all-day neighborhood draw.
8.8
A high-volume downtown brunch engine that stays consistent because it commits to big-batch execution: pancakes, omelets, and griddled classics that arrive fast and familiar. The smartest play is to order in one lane—either signature pancakes or eggs—then add one pastry or fruit side, not a full spread.
Must-Try Dishes:
Signature Berry Bliss Pancakes, Omelet (choose one lane), French toast (seasonal)
What makes it special: Massive brunch volume with reliably executed signature pancakes.
8.7
Filipino-Midwestern fusion bakery opened in March 2025 by pastry chef Justin Lerias, drawing multi-block lines for laminated pastries like longanisa croissants and turon danishes. The entirely nut-free operation produces three-day fermented sourdough bases and has quickly become one of the most buzzworthy bakeries in Chicago.
Must-Try Dishes:
Turon Danish, Longanisa Croissant, Ube Oatmeal Cream Pie
What makes it special: Filipino heritage meets Midwestern comfort through meticulously laminated pastries and creative flavor combinations
#5
avec
8.6
A West Loop Mediterranean room built for shareable small plates that still eat like a real dinner: bold, wine-friendly flavors, smart technique, and a menu that rewards committing to a few signature lanes. The move is to anchor the table with one big protein, then stack 2–3 high-impact plates that bring spice, acid, and smoke into balance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates, Slow-roasted pork shoulder, Short rib hummus
What makes it special: High-impact Mediterranean small plates built for a tight, shareable order.
8.6
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits is a breakfast counter built around buttery biscuits, gravy, and seasonal pies served from a small house with a busy patio. Lines move quickly, and most people treat it as a casual morning stop for hearty biscuit plates and slices of pie with coffee.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gravy Biscuit, Scratch Biscuit with Sausage, Seasonal Pie Slice
What makes it special: A biscuit-and-pie specialist where breakfast is built around carb comforts.
8.6
Beatrix Loop is Lettuce Entertain You’s all-day Loop café where seasonal New American comfort meets lighter, vegetable-forward plates and a serious coffee program. Office regulars lean on it for reliable breakfast, power lunches, and pre-theater dinners that feel polished without being formal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Enlightened Caesar, Straight 'A' Salad, Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich
What makes it special: A polished all-day café where health-conscious plates and comfort favorites share the menu.
8.6
Since 1986, Chiu Quon has been Chinatown’s go-to counter for Hong Kong–style buns, egg tarts, and festival pastries. Locals rely on it for cash-only, grab-and-go boxes of still-warm baked goods at prices that make repeat visits easy.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ pork buns, Portuguese egg tarts, Walnut red bean paste cake
What makes it special: Long-running Chinatown bakery turning out Hong Kong–style buns and pastries from early morning to late night.
8.6
A classic all-day breakfast room near Midway where omelettes, crepes, and French toast are the reliable lanes. It’s built for fast turnover and repeatable comfort, especially when you keep the order focused on their breakfast staples.
Must-Try Dishes:
Denver omelette, Crepes, Cinnamon French toast
What makes it special: A dependable Midway-area pancake-house menu built around omelettes, crepes, and French toast.
8.6
Open since 1991, Uncle Mike’s Place turns a humble corner diner into one of Chicago’s defining Filipino breakfast spots. Complimentary arroz caldo and hefty silog plates make it a reliable all-morning stop for longanisa, tocino, garlic rice, and eggs in a no-frills room packed with regulars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Longanisa Breakfast Plate, Tocino Breakfast with Garlic Rice and Eggs, Complimentary Arroz Caldo (Lugaw)
What makes it special: Long-running Filipino breakfast institution anchored by generous silog platters.
8.5
A farm-to-table café and beer garden just off 18th Street, The Spoke & Bird anchors South Loop breakfast with a from-scratch menu, strong coffee program, and an unusually large courtyard patio. Regulars build mornings around hearty egg sandwiches, omelettes, and pastries before walking the nearby museum campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Sandwich, Chorizo Omelette, French Toast
What makes it special: A locally owned farm-to-table café with a rare, spacious breakfast patio.
8.5
Yolk - Marina City is a downtown breakfast workhorse turning out big plates of pancakes, omelets, and benedicts to a steady stream of locals and visitors along the river. Massive multi-platform review volume backs a menu that ranges from strawberry cheesecake pancakes to hearty egg platters in a lively, family-friendly room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes, Classic Eggs Benedict, Breakfast Tacos
What makes it special: High-volume riverfront breakfast house known for oversized, highly customizable morning plates.
8.4
A Gold Coast dining room where the fries land as a luxe side that matches the room: hot, aromatic, and designed for lingering. The move is to anchor your order with one main, then add the truffle fries as the shared table centerpiece.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffle fries, Burger, Lobster roll
What makes it special: Truffle fries in an iconic showroom setting.
8.4
An all-day bakery-cafe that locals treat like a neighborhood clubhouse: breakfast plates up front, then cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for the take-home win. It’s strongest when you pair one savory anchor with a slice or scone, so the meal feels like a full spread without over-ordering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Katie Cakes (signature slice), Brioche French toast, Hot chocolate
What makes it special: All-day bakery-cafe where dessert is as important as breakfast.
#15
Beatrix
8.4
Opened in 2013 by Lettuce Entertain You, Beatrix is an all-day New American café that leans into brunch plates, salads, and a strong bakery and coffee counter. High-volume, steady reviews keep it a default for River North breakfast meetings, solo lunches, and casual dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy chicken tinga, Smashed avocado toast with poached eggs, Chicken Bebe
What makes it special: A busy, reliable all-day spot where New American comfort plates meet lighter, health-leaning options.
8.4
A long-running Pilsen café that wins on all-day breakfast energy: strong coffee, steady sandwiches, and Mexican-leaning comfort that locals treat as a daily anchor. The move is to order like a regular—one signature hot drink, one mollete or sandwich—and keep it simple so everything lands hot and crisp.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mollete, Mexican hot chocolate, Focaccia sandwich
What makes it special: A Pilsen institution where coffee-and-mollete breakfast stays reliably satisfying.
8.4
A Mexican-leaning breakfast spot that treats brunch like real cooking, not just a checklist of staples. The menu shines when you lean into chilaquiles and richer French-toast-style plates, with drinks that match the spice-and-sweet lane.
Must-Try Dishes:
Poblano chilaquiles, Cajeta churro French toast, Horchata latte
What makes it special: Mexican brunch dishes that feel intentional, not generic add-ons.
#18
FARE
8.4
An all-day café built for Loop mornings: clean coffee, a tight breakfast-and-lunch menu, and a pace that works when you’re eating between meetings. It shines when you keep it simple—one hot breakfast item, one pastry, and a drink—then grab a table early before the office wave hits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avocado toast, Breakfast sandwich, Seasonal pastry
What makes it special: A Loop café that executes fast, clean breakfast without chaos.
#19
Pick Me Up Cafe
8.4
An Uptown all-day café where breakfast wins on range and comfort—especially if you’re ordering with vegan/vegetarian needs in mind. The room leans eclectic and casual, and the best meals come from a focused order: one sweet plate, one savory plate, and coffee, then stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Vegan French toast, Eggs Benedict, Vegan chocolate chip pancakes
What makes it special: A big, diet-friendly breakfast menu that still lands like comfort food.
8.4
A Southport Corridor neighborhood bar-restaurant where the fries are treated like a real menu item, not a filler side—crisp, hand-cut, and built for dipping. The best move is to start with the Truffled Hard Cut Fries, then keep the rest of the order in the burger-and-shares lane so the fry texture stays the headline.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffled Hard Cut Fries, Hand Cut Fries, Pesto Cream Mussels
What makes it special: Truffled hard-cut fries with truffle aioli that read as a signature, not a side.
#21
Tre Kronor
8.4
A Swedish-leaning breakfast room that wins on comforting, properly executed classics—especially anything griddled or baked. The best visits feel like a steady cadence of lingonberry, cardamom, and butter-forward pastries without drifting into gimmicks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, Eggs Benedict, Cinnamon roll
What makes it special: Swedish breakfast staples executed like a neighborhood institution.
#22
3rd Coast Cafe
8.3
A Gold Coast all-day cafe that wins on dependable, diner-plus execution—hearty plates, calm neighborhood energy, and a menu built for repeat visits. The best move is to stay in their comfort-zone lane (hashes, omelets, steak-and-eggs) where portioning and seasoning land most consistently.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pulled Pork Hash, Mexican Steak & Eggs, House Omelet
What makes it special: A true all-day neighborhood cafe with reliable, hearty breakfast plates.
#23
Breakfast House
8.3
Breakfast House is a Latin family-owned brunch specialist where chilaquiles, hashes, and pancakes headline a sprawling menu. Since 2012, West Town locals have treated it as an all-purpose breakfast meeting spot with friendly service and flexible options for traditional and lighter plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Supreme Chorizo Hash, Chilaquiles with Chorizo and Eggs, Breakfast House Hash with Poached Eggs
What makes it special: Latin-influenced brunch spot known for loaded hashes and chilaquiles.
#24
Brûlée
8.3
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Brulee is a modern, Black-owned brunch spot on South Michigan where shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and a signature brûléed French toast lean indulgent. Reservations and a 90-minute seating window keep the lively, high-volume dining room moving through weekend breakfast service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp and Grits, Brulee French Toast, Lobster Tail with Sweet Potato Waffle
What makes it special: A high-energy South Michigan brunch room focused on soulful, plated breakfasts.
8.3
A busy, modern breakfast stop built for big plates and reliable comfort: skillets, pancakes, and eggs that hit the expected cravings without a lot of drama. Order with intention—one sweet, one savory—and you’ll get the cleanest version of what they do.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast skillet, Pancakes, Biscuits and gravy
What makes it special: High-volume brunch comfort that stays dependable across repeats.
#26
Cafecito
8.3
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
A pressed-sandwich and café-con-leche counter that runs like a Loop institution—quick line, bold Cuban flavors, and plenty of grab-and-go energy. For breakfast, it’s strongest when you lean into coffee + something handheld and sweet, then save the heavier plates for lunch.
Must-Try Dishes:
Café con leche, Breakfast sandwich, Guava pastry
What makes it special: High-velocity Cuban café energy with a coffee-and-handheld breakfast rhythm.
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Cozy Corner is a classic neighborhood pancake house where enormous skillets, omelets, and pancake stacks come out of the kitchen all morning. It’s more about quantity, options, and reliable execution than trend-chasing, and families rely on it for straightforward, sit-down breakfasts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Meat Lovers Skillet, Abuelita Pancakes, Denver Omelet
What makes it special: Old-school diner breakfasts served in big portions at friendly prices.
8.3
Dell Rooster reframes brunch through a Latin American lens, serving chilaquiles, dulce de leche pancakes, and short rib skillets alongside dinner-ready plates. Daily brunch hours and a polished room make it feel like both a neighborhood spot and a special-occasion option.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles with Egg and Roasted Chicken, Rooster & Waffles, Dulce De Leche Pancakes
What makes it special: Latin-owned brunch spot turning chilaquiles and pancakes into polished plates.
8.3
A pie-and-quiche café that’s built for reliable comfort: big slices, sturdy crusts, and a rotating lineup that rewards showing up hungry. It shines when you pick one signature slice and keep the rest simple—don’t scatter your order across too many desserts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Key lime pie, Polka dot cheesecake, Quiche (daily selection)
What makes it special: Old-school pie shop energy with serious slice variety and consistency.
#30
Frida Room
8.3
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Family Friendly Favorites
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Group Dining Gatherings
A Mexican-American breakfast room where chilaquiles and morning plates are the main draw, backed by steady coffee and an easygoing, art-forward Pilsen setting. It works best when you pick a lane—one chilaquiles-style dish plus one sweet—rather than stretching into the whole menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Breakfast burrito, Churro French toast
What makes it special: Mexican-American brunch built around chilaquiles that stay craveable.
8.3
A bright Andersonville brunch room that runs best when you treat it like a classic comfort breakfast spot—one signature egg plate plus one sweet share. It’s a crowd-friendly choice with a menu built for repeat visits, not one-off novelty orders.
Must-Try Dishes:
Eggs Benedict, French toast, Breakfast potatoes
What makes it special: A repeatable Andersonville brunch menu built for big, familiar favorites.
8.3
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Sweet Treats Escapes
Saint Anna functions as both a Chinese bakery and Hong Kong–style cafe, pairing egg tarts and pineapple buns with congee, wonton noodle soup, and milk tea. It’s a sit-down option where you can make a full breakfast or light lunch out of bakery cases and short-order plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg custard tarts, Pineapple buns, Sesame balls
What makes it special: Hybrid bakery and Hong Kong–style cafe where you can pair pastries with congee, noodles, and strong milk tea.
#33
The Bongo Room
8.3
The Bongo Room is a Wicker Park brunch standby famed for dessert-level French toast, benedicts, and coffee-centric breakfasts. Crowds come for towering plates and seasonal specials in a lively room that leans indulgent more than everyday diner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chocolate Tower French Toast, Classic Eggs Benedict, Breakfast Burrito
What makes it special: Longtime brunch hub with over-the-top pancakes and French toast.
8.3
A Mexican breakfast-forward menu where eggs, chilaquiles, and plated desayunos are the main event, supported by bold sauces and filling sides. It hits best when you choose one breakfast plate and commit, rather than mixing across too many categories.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Huevos con chorizo, Huevos motuleños
What makes it special: A focused desayunos menu with chilaquiles and egg plates that hold up.
#35
Wishbone
8.3
A West Loop staple for Southern-leaning breakfast that keeps the focus on hearty classics and sauce-and-grits comfort. It’s strongest when you pick one signature bowl and one supporting sweet or biscuit item, then let the kitchen’s core rhythms do the work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp & Grits with Bacon, Biscuits & Gravy, Crunchy French Toast
What makes it special: Southern breakfast comfort with a signature grits lane that holds up.
8.2
The South Loop outpost of Batter & Berries brings the brand’s loaded French toast and savory plates to State Street, drawing fans before games and conventions. The room runs busy and casual, with colorful breakfast platters that skew richer than your average diner.
Must-Try Dishes:
French Toast Flight, Cluck-N-Gaufre, Shrimp & Grits
What makes it special: A destination Chicago brunch name serving over-the-top sweet and savory plates in the South Loop.
#37
Breakfast House
8.2
A classic, menu-deep breakfast room that wins on comfort staples done cleanly and served hot. It’s at its best when you pick a clear lane—one signature French toast or a hearty omelet—rather than trying to sample the whole board.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nutella fruit French toast special, Veggie omelette (egg-white option), Breakfast burrito (sauce on side)
What makes it special: Big, classic breakfast menu with steady execution.
#38
Cafe con Leche
8.2
Cafe Con Leche is Logan Square’s longtime Latin all-day café, serving Mexican breakfasts, coffee drinks, and heartier platos in a lively room. Morning crowds mix chilaquiles, egg plates, and breakfast sandwiches with café con leche before the space shifts toward lunch and dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Breakfast Burrito, Huevos Rancheros
What makes it special: Latin-leaning breakfast plates and coffee in a high-traffic neighborhood staple.
#39
Cafe El Meson
8.2
A cafe-style spot where breakfast and brunch lean into sandwiches, pastries, and coffeehouse comfort with a Puerto Rican tilt. It performs best as a daytime order: one savory item, one pastry, and a specialty drink.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jibarito sandwich, Chicken empanada, Nutella latte
What makes it special: A daytime cafe built around sandwiches, pastries, and specialty drinks.
8.2
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Hidden Gems Heaven
Corey’s NYC Bagel Deli is a compact River North counter spot focused on kettle-boiled bagels, piled-high breakfast sandwiches, and lox-loaded specials. With hundreds of reviews and early-morning hours, it functions as a grab-and-go breakfast hub for nearby offices and hotels.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nova Lox Sandwich, The Benny Sandwich, Plain Bagel with Scallion Cream Cheese
What makes it special: A small, bagel-first deli with New York–style water bagels and generously stuffed breakfast sandwiches at downtown-friendly prices.
#41
D'Nuez
8.2
A Pilsen-adjacent brunch-and-lunch spot that leans Mexican-fusion, with chilaquiles and café de olla-style comfort leading the order. The best experience comes from treating it like a focused breakfast plate—one signature dish, one drink—so the kitchen’s strengths stay clear.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles (mole if available), Cafe de olla, Crepes
What makes it special: Mexican-fusion breakfast built around chilaquiles and comforting hot drinks.
#42
Eggy's Diner
8.2
A neighborhood brunch-and-lunch diner in Lakeshore East that’s strongest when you lean into comfort-food builds: rich French toast, chilaquiles, and egg-forward plates that reward decisive ordering. Keep it focused—one sweet or one savory lane—so the table doesn’t blur into duplicates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nutella Crunchy French Toast, Chilaquiles, Eggs Benedict (one variation)
What makes it special: Comfort-brunch plates with neighborhood-diner reliability in Lakeshore East.
#43
Uncommon Ground
8.2
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Brewery & Beer Garden Republic
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
A long-running Lakeview all-day spot that plays strongest in brunch and brewery-adjacent comfort lanes. Order best by anchoring with a Benedict or scramble and one sweet-leaning plate for the table, keeping the meal tight and consistent.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict, Farmers Market Scramble, Stuffed French Toast
What makes it special: An all-day Lakeview staple where the brunch bench is the safest bet.
#44
Xocome Antojeria
8.2
A compact strip-mall antojitos counter that leans into hand-worked masa and dishes you don’t see everywhere, landing best when you treat it like a focused Mexico City snack run. Go for one masa-driven anchor and one supporting item, and the meal stays sharp instead of sprawling.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blue masa tacos, Gorditas, Pambazo
What makes it special: Masa-first antojitos with specialties beyond standard taco menus.
A bright, early-opening panadería that works best as a simple morning ritual: coffee plus sweet bread, or a small box for the family. It’s strongest when you stick to the classics—pan dulce and one signature cake—so the quality reads clearly rather than getting lost in a huge mix-and-match order.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tres leches cake, Pan de elote, Pan dulce (conchas/bolillos)
What makes it special: Early-opening panadería breakfast built around classic breads and cake slices.
#46
Lou Mitchell's
8.1
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
A classic all-American diner experience with big-portion breakfasts, a fast-moving floor, and a time-capsule dining room. It’s at its best when you treat it like a focused breakfast mission—one omelette lane or one griddle lane—then get out before the line swells.
Must-Try Dishes:
Greek Sausage Omelette, French Toast, Eggs Benedict
What makes it special: A historic Chicago diner serving big breakfasts since 1923.
#47
Pochos
8.1
A busy Mexican-American brunch café where sweet-and-savory plates (especially chilaquiles and French toast builds) are designed for weekend demand. The move is to commit to one centerpiece dish per person and skip excessive sides—this place rewards tight ordering when the room is slammed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Cafe de olla, French toast
What makes it special: A high-demand Pilsen brunch room built around chilaquiles and sweet plates.
#48
Sun Rey Cafe
8.1
Sun Rey Cafe is a compact Western Avenue breakfast spot where Filipino touches meet classic diner plates. Ube pancakes, Manila-style breakfasts, and all-day eggs make it a quietly strong option for casual mornings just off the main Wicker Park drags.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ube Pancakes, Manila Breakfast Plate with Longanisa, Breakfast Tacos
What makes it special: Filipino-leaning corner cafe with ube pancakes and Manila breakfasts.
#49
The Lanzaga
8.1
A café-bistro that feels personal and owner-driven, with a breakfast-brunch menu that rewards leaning into their savory plates. It works best as a relaxed sit-down where you order one composed entrée per person and stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Biscuits and gravy, Breakfast sandwich, Yucca fries
What makes it special: An intimate café-bistro feel with savory breakfast strengths.
#50
Tiztal Cafe
8.1
A Mexican breakfast-and-lunch café that wins on comfort, consistency, and a menu built for regulars. The move is chilaquiles plus one of their signature shakes—treat it as a cozy daytime anchor, not a rush job.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Oatmeal shake, Chorizo scramble
What makes it special: Mexican daytime cooking with cult-favorite chilaquiles and shakes.