There is one thing about Chicago that everyone raves about—the diverse range of cuisine found on any block. Whether it’s 1 am or 7 am, you’re bound to breathe in sweet scents of late-night tacos or fresh-brewed coffee with brunch. While most aren’t particular about late-night food while inebriated, the same can’t be said for waking up early with a rumbling stomach. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick classic diner selection or an upscale dish, here are places where you can find the best breakfast in Chicago.
Our team has carefully selected each breakfast spot on this list. Our editors and the Secret Chicago team depend on personal experiences, recommendations, editorial reviews, customer feedback, and thorough research to bring you the most delicious breakfast in Chicago. This list is regularly updated as we discover new openings and revisit established favorites.
1. Kasama
This Michelin-Starred award-winning bakery and modern Filipino restaurant was conceptualized by chefs Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores—and has some of the most palatable sweet and savory pastries. This renowned restaurant has a counter-service breakfast menu in the morning and a tasting menu at night. Make sure to get here early because it’s first come, first serve, and there’s sometimes a line that trails blocks.
📍Address: 1001 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
2. Tre Kronor
Tre Kronor is a divine, dainty spot on the edge of Albany Park. If you’re looking for fresh air and the hum of birds singing in at dawn, this is the place to be—their rustic outdoor seating transports you to a bucolic countryside. And with a selection of sapid Scandinavian dishes that are warm and homestyle, you’ll soon be a repeated customer every time you need an escape from the city.
📍Address: 3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
3. Ann Sather
Ann Sather is a beloved staple in Chicago. It was founded by Ann Sather herself, a vivacious career-driven restauranter. She wanted to create a breakfast restaurant in Chicago where people would come for homemade meals and feel affable hospitality as soon as they stepped through the door. It has three locations around the area and a notable Chicago breakfast menu.
📍Address: 909 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657,
📍 3415 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657,
📍 3415 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
4. Tempo Cafe
When you step in, it feels like a classic diner with regulars. Waiters are on a first-name basis with their patrons and refill their coffee right after being seated, asking, “Are you going to have the usual?” Tempo Cafe’s menu is filled with breakfast delights, including fluffy pancakes, build-your-own-omelets, and large skillets bound to be leftovers.
📍Address: 6 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611
5. Wildberry Cafe
People usually prefer the classics, so remixes aren’t necessarily someone’s first choice. However, Wildberry’s signature pancakes are remixes that not only please the palate but will have you regret ordering plain pancakes all your life. Their pancakes are delicious, velvety, and flavorful—from Berry Bliss and Blackberry Key Lime Pie to Cinnamon Roll and Oreo S’mores, reminiscent of breakfast dessert—sweet, savory, and the best breakfast in Chicago, perhaps.
📍Address: 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
📍Address: 196 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611
6. Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits
Photo: Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits/FacebookOne thing midwesterners are not known for is their biscuits, which is why Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits is a delicate treat that Chicagoans should appreciate. We don’t have to travel hundreds of miles south for an incredible southern breakfast feast; Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits is a rustic bakery with a rotating seasonal menu of homemade sweet and savory pies and biscuits, including the best breakfast in Chicago.
📍Address: 2934 N Milwaukee Ave Suite E, Chicago, IL 60618
7. Loaf Lounge
What better way to begin your morning than with a freshly baked English muffin, country sourdough, or marble rye? Loaf Lounge indulges all your warm bread cravings with a delectable selection of mouth-watering breakfast sandwiches at every bite. From the classic sausage, egg, and cheese to smoked salmon, you can’t go wrong with wherever your taste buds pull you toward.
📍Address: 1055 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615
8. Little Goat Diner
Chef Stephanie Izard has made a name for herself in Chicago. After winning Top Chef Season 4, she took the city by storm, dominating the restaurant scene by opening up the coveted Girl in the Goat and Duck Duck Goat, among other restaurants, she branched out into the beloved breakfast space. When you step into Little Goat Diner, it feels like the classic place where you would get a cup of fresh-brewed coffee and read the morning paper, with its retro decorations, including its luminescent clock right above the cashier. Her signature flavors make her menu the best breakfast in Chicago, with This Little Piggy and Chili Crunch.
📍Address: 3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
9. Roux Diner
There’s nothing like having beads thrown on you at Bourbon Street while slurping a Hurricane at night, only to wake up early to wait for a beignet from Cafe Du Monde, twirling to live jazz tunes. New Orleans is a magical place, and when you want a little taste of all its goodness, head to Roux. The NOLA-inspired restaurant is an all-day breakfast spot in Chicago, from southern staples like classic beignets to scrumptious shrimp & grits.
📍Address: 1055 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615
10. Pearl’s Place
This is another southern spot that’s good for the soul. Deemed as a white-tablecloth restaurant, Pearl’s Place serves classic soul food such as golden fried chicken and melty mac and cheese, and signature breakfast food such as corn beef hash and homemade buttermilk biscuits. What’s made it unalike is its buffet menu. For $18.59, this has the best AYCE breakfast in Chicago that is delectable and rejuvenating.
📍Address: 3901 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
11. Tiztal Cafe
Originating from the Mega Mall juice bar in Logan Square, Tiztal is now the go-to breakfast spot for Chicagoans. The convivial atmosphere is noticeable when you enter the family-owned and operated restaurant. If you’re an omelet savant, this is where we recommend you go. The menu is decorated with many omelet options and will have you telling your friends about some of the best breakfasts in Chicago.
📍Address: 4631 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
12. Nellie’s Restaurant
A staple of the Humboldt Park neighborhood, Nellie’s is the perfect fusion that harmonizes Puerto Rican Fare and American breakfast favorites. While the menu sprawls with Puerto Rican delicacies, and the open, cozy space with exposed brick makes it the place to bring the family. Not to mention, they have the only Puerto Rican buffet breakfast in Chicago, so be sure to make your reservations in advance.
📍Address: 2458 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
13. Uncle Mike’s Place
This snug spot, providing only the essential American-Filipino spot, serves the hearty all-day breakfast you need to add for your next weekday breakfast outing. This is the place to go if you’re looking for a low-key breakfast joint while serving a delicious meal. The menu has a Filipino section, a fusion section, and a classic American breakfast section—appeasing the stomach’s morning mood and the best breakfast in Chicago.
📍Address: 2458 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
14. Sweet Maple Cafe
Their slogan, “It’s more than breakfast,” rings true to the warm and homebody atmosphere prevalent throughout Sweet Maple Cafe. Where people come to sip coffee and chat about their busy weekday or share stories that embody the restaurant, however, the breakfast is just as good, from their sweet milk biscuits to the not-so-plain buttermilk pancakes served with Vermont maple syrup; an array of items will have you returning for more than the warm vibe.
📍Address: 1339 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607
15. Wishbone
This spunky-decorated restaurant will have you falling in love with the flying pigs mural as much as their mouth-savory breakfast options. Wishbone has the best breakfast in Chicago with Southern-inspired dishes with a Cajun Spin, including a Louisiana bowl, shrimp & grits with bacon, and splendid other breakfast options that will transport you to the south. Not only is their inside wildly fun, but they have a spacious patio in the back of the restaurants so that you can spend the rest of your summer mornings in bliss.
📍Address: 161 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661
16. The Original Pancake House
If you’re looking for thick, rich, and mouth-watering signature breakfast items in Chicago, like an Apple Pancake or a Dutch Baby, head to the Original Pancake House. The Apple Pancake is a single large pancake smothered with sautéed apples and cinnamon sugar baked to perfection and has a decadent cinnamon sugar glaze. The Dutch Baby is an air-filled delight oven-baked to golden perfection and served with lemon, whipped butter, and powdered sugar to create a flavorful blend.
📍Address: 22 E Bellevue Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
17. Sunny Side Up
📍Address: 42 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611
18. Honeybear Cafe
This breakfast in Chicago feels like your nanas cooking; Honeybear Cafe will wrap you in nostalgic memories. Almost everything is homemade at Honeybear Cafe, and almost everything is locally sourced. It’s a wholesome and healthy place, and while tucking into some delicious tacos, French toast, or a vegan tofu scrambler, Honeybear is that place.
📍Address: 7036 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
19. Beatrix
With multiple locations all over Chicago—Fulton Market, River North, and Streeterville—the popular all-day eatery focuses on healthy options. You can guarantee Beatrix has something for everybody, from light and fluffy lemon pancakes to Smashed Avocado Toast.
📍Address: Various Beatrix locations
20. Daley’s Restaurant
Daley’s is a historic diner and one of Chicago’s oldest restaurants. It serves a variety of comforting soul food. The breakfast menu is filled with homestyle classics, including pork chops, catfish, chicken wings, grilled salt pork, and other Southern comforts alongside the classic eggs and toast breakfast.
📍Address: 6257 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60637