Best Instagram Worthy Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago
21 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Del Sur Bakery & Cafe
Filipino heritage meets Midwestern comfort through meticulously laminated pastries and creative flavor combinations
Notable Picks
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
#2
Roux Diner
8.6
A New Orleans-inspired all-day spot where the sandwich lane shines through breakfast-and-beyond builds—biscuit stacks, tartines, and a classic patty melt done with real kitchen care. The room leans polished-casual, and the menu rewards people who want something more thoughtful than a standard deli counter without turning into a long, formal meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Biscuit Sandwich, Fried Green Tomato Tartine, Patty Melt
What Makes it Special: Southern technique applied to sandwich formats (biscuit + tartine) with real polish.
#3
Solazo
8.6
A Pulaski corridor Mexican restaurant-bar that leans into brunch energy on weekends—cocktails, lively dining, and a menu that supports late-morning plans. Come when you want a more social breakfast window with table-time and a fuller atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Cochinita Pibil, Churros
What Makes it Special: Brunch-capable Mexican cooking with a full bar and a lively room.
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.
#5
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
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
Un Amor
8.3
A West Town Latin brunch spot where burritos feel like composed plates—rich proteins, bright acids, and well-balanced sides instead of a generic wrap-and-go build. It’s best with a reservation mindset and a shareable table so you can split one burrito-style main plus a sweet centerpiece. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Burrito (seasonal specials), Churro French Toast, Steak & Eggs-style brunch plates
What Makes it Special: Latin brunch flavors executed with polish and real balance.
8.1
A Beverly coffee shop with real breakfast-and-lunch substance: espresso drinks, rotating specials, and sandwiches that go beyond basic grab-and-go. It’s best used as a morning “coffee + one substantial handheld” stop—order ahead if you’re timing a tight pickup.
Must-Try Dishes:
Challah Challah Days sandwich, Acai bowl, Seasonal latte
What Makes it Special: A neighborhood coffee shop where the food menu is actually worth ordering.
#10
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.
#11
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.
A boutique-hotel dining room that doubles as a polished Hyde Park brunch option when you want a calmer, more design-forward setting. It’s strongest for a sit-down breakfast with good coffee rhythm—order a classic brunch staple and let the room do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pancakes, Coffee service, Brunch plate
What Makes it Special: Hotel-lounge brunch in a design-forward Hyde Park setting.
#13
Metric
8
A polished roastery cafe that’s strongest for coffee-first mornings with a light-but-serious food bench. Come here for dialed espresso and pastries that pair cleanly, then treat any breakfast sandwich or toast as a supporting player—not the headline.
Must-Try Dishes:
Espresso drinks, Seasonal pastry, Breakfast sandwich
What Makes it Special: Roastery-level coffee with a clean, morning-friendly cafe setup.
8
A wine bar that earns its spot on a breakfast list by offering structured brunch packages that feel like a sit-down occasion. The move is to lean into the composed buffet/entrée format and let it be a slower, more social meal—more celebratory brunch than quick breakfast.
Must-Try Dishes:
Brioche French toast, Deviled eggs, Cheesy potato hashbrowns
What Makes it Special: A brunch-format wine bar experience instead of a standard breakfast run.
Worthy Picks
#15
Dulce Mami Café
7.9
A sweets-leaning brunch cafe where crepes, waffles, and coffee drinks are the core strengths. It lands best as a simple two-item order so timing stays tight and everything arrives at peak texture.
Must-Try Dishes:
Strawberry-Nutella crepe, Waffles, Cafe con leche
What Makes it Special: A brunch cafe built around crepes, waffles, and sweet-leaning plates.
7.8
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Quick Bites Champions
Business Lunch Power Players
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A cafe-bakery hybrid that works best for a clean, reliable breakfast run—sandwiches, waffles, and coffee in a bright all-day space. The sweet spot is one morning sandwich or waffle plus a drink, keeping the order simple so it stays quick and consistent.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Sandwich, Classic Belgian Waffle, Buttermilk Pancakes
What Makes it Special: A bakery-cafe breakfast lane with dependable sandwiches and waffles.
#17
Swadesi Cafe
7.8
An Indian cafe-and-bakery concept that translates classic flavors into an all-day coffee shop rhythm—chai, spiced lattes, and laminated pastries that borrow from both worlds. It’s best as a morning or midday stop where you order one savory item, one pastry, and a signature drink instead of trying to turn it into a full restaurant meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Chicken Croissant, Chicken Tikka Toastie, Salted Jaggery Caramel Latte
What Makes it Special: Indian chai-house flavors reimagined as a modern cafe and bakery.
7.8
A café-market hybrid where the surprise is that the Smash Burger belongs in the conversation, not just the coffee and baked goods. It’s a daytime play—order, grab a seat, and treat the burger as lunch fuel rather than a late-night craving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smash Burger, Breakfast Sandwich, Seasonal Pastries
What Makes it Special: A coffee-and-market spot where the lunch smash burger actually hits.
7.7
A community-minded Hyde Park cafe that leans into breakfast sandwiches, toast, and sweet-leaning staples in a cozy daytime setting. It’s best as a low-friction morning stop: pick one egg-forward item, add a coffee, and treat it like a reset point.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg & cheese croissant, Avocado toast, French toast
What Makes it Special: Cafe breakfast menu with a community vibe and daytime calm.
7.7
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A bright, neighborhood bistro where breakfast works best as an easy sit-down—eggs, hashes, and coffee-forward mornings with a relaxed pace. It’s more about comfort and convenience than culinary flex, so order the simple staples and enjoy the room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast hash, Pesto & eggs, French toast
What Makes it Special: Bright, all-day bistro energy that makes breakfast easy.
7.6
An upscale-leaning soul food spot that runs weekend brunch in a polished, lounge-like setup. The win is comfort food with a dressed-up presentation—go for one rich main, then balance it with a lighter side so the meal doesn’t turn into a food coma.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken & waffles, Shrimp & grits, Fried green tomatoes
What Makes it Special: Soul-food brunch with an upscale presentation and lounge energy.