17 Wow-Worthy Breakfast Spots in Chicago to Try in 2024

Looking to find the best spot for breakfast in Chicago? Chicago’s food culture is a dominating force, including some of the best gourmet offerings and award-winning eateries alongside classic diners, greasy spoons and neighborhood favorites. Many are open early in the day, where you can find everything from multi-course brunches to quick bites or grab-and-go offerings.

Amazing restaurants for breakfast in Chicago are around every corner and for every culinary desire and price point, many incorporating American classic dishes with cultural accents that make up the city’s large population.

You can find everything from the perfect Filipino breakfast to Southern comfort food, vegetarian burritos to decadent pastries. We’ve rounded up a few favorites that are perfect for early-morning breakfasts and leisurely brunches alike.  

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• 17 Best Breakfast Experiences in Chicago

17 Best Breakfast Experiences in Chicago

1. Breakfast Cooking Classes in Chicago

If you’re looking for a way to enjoy Chicago's favorite breakfast dishes and Chicago foods, don’t forget the variety of local cooking classes that allow you to join talented Chicago chefs to learn timeless breakfast and brunch recipes.

You can find cooking classes in Chicago that encompass everything from kitchen basics to making exquisite pastries to enjoy with your coffee.

You can also give the gift of some of Chicago’s favorite restaurants by purchasing gift cards and certificates to many of these eateries, which make a great Chicago experience gift for visitors and newcomers alike.

2. Kasama

This Michelin-starred Filipino favorite for breakfast in Chicago is home to their famous egg, cheese, longanisa and hash brown sandwich, as well as an assortment of pastries both savory and sweet. During the day, they specialize in counter service, with a popular tasting menu in the evenings.

It’s first come, first serve, so make sure to get there early, since the line around the block outside this East Village spot can get pretty long. Inside is modern and filled with plants, while the outdoor patio is a great spot to spend a morning under umbrellas. A few hours on the patio also makes a cute date idea in Chicago.

3. Pearl’s Place 

One of the best restaurants in Chicago for southern soul food, Pearls, located in Bronzeville on the city’s south side has both an ala carte menu and a buffet every day of the week for under $20  featuring made-to-order omelets, grits, buttermilk biscuits, mac and cheese, corned beef hash fried chicken and more.

Their white-tabled dining room feels elevated, but the service and vibe are casual and home-like and has been attracting local crowds from all areas of the city for over 30 years. 

4. Uncle Mike’s Place

Located in the Ukrainian Village, Uncle Mikes is a perfect place for breakfast in Chicago to find Asian specialties alongside classic American breakfast favorites.

It’s the perfect spot to get a classic Filipino breakfast, including elements like longanisa (sweet sausage), bangus (marinated milkfish) and tocino (cured pork shoulder) alongside complementary lugaw (rice porridge.)

With a casual environment that feels like someone’s home, you can also find American breakfast classics like breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and omelets.

5. Lula Café

A favorite restaurant for breakfast in Chicago located in Logan Square, this farm-to-table eatery has an ever-evolving menu catering to both meat-loving and vegetarian diners.

Lula Café has been providing classic breakfast favorites and innovative fare since 1999. Prized dishes include the smoked trout omelet, the tofu and vegetable scramble and the French toast with cranberry compote. A popular place on the weekends, make sure to book a table early for this relaxed and casual restaurant.

6. Doves Luncheonette

Vintage vibes prevail in this great spot for breakfast in Chicago, where you can find tunes from the 1960s and 1970s piped over a relaxed casual old-school diner experience in a bright and open space.

Sit at a counter stool to enjoy all manner of southern and Tex-Mex breakfast favorites, including omelets, French toast, oatmeal, breakfast tacos and pork pozole.

The wait for this popular spot can be up to an hour on weekends but is worth it for both the food and dining experience. It’s long considered one of the best cute breakfast places in Chicago.

7. Wildberry Pancakes & Café

As their name would suggest, pancakes are the star at this popular stop for breakfast in Chicago located on the edge of Millennium Park, making it one of the best breakfasts in downtown Chicago with a view. Variations are endless, including red velvet, blackberry key lime, cinnamon roll and s’mores.

Their location means lots of tourists and visitors, but their large space can accommodate crowds well, including a spacious outdoor patio overlooking the park and the gorgeous cliff of historic buildings lining it.

They also have suburban locations in Libertyville and Schaumburg. In addition to pancakes, you can find other breakfast faves like omelets, crepes, scrambles and more. They are known as one of the best pancake restaurants in Chicago.

8. Cafecito

Located in the heart of the Loop, with outposts in Lincoln Park and just off the Magnificent Mile, this small Cuban spot offers one of the best breakfasts in downtown Chicago for going on two decades, offering a robust menu of coffees and breakfast sandwiches like a classic Cubano. 

Other menu items include pancakes with plantains and pineapple and a popular steak, eggs and grilled onions breakfast sandwich.

The interior is bustling, especially during the morning rush and weekend hours, but is a relaxing spot to enjoy a quick breakfast amid Cuban artwork and cultural ephemera.  

9. Lou Mitchell's

Offering a classic diner breakfast experience in Chicago for a century, Lou Mitchell’s is one of the oldest eateries in Chicago located in the Loop. Stop for a quick or leisurely breakfast seated on one of the stools along its long, serpentine counter or in a cozy booth that feels plucked out of early to mid-20th century Chicago.

The walls are filled with Chicago history and culture while the menu boasts greasy-spoon favorites like omelets, skillets, pancakes and waffles. In warmer weather, you can sit outside and watch the bustle of commuters along Jackson Avenue.

10. Wishbone

A great breakfast place in Chicago for classic Southern comfort food, Wishbone is one of the most famous West Loop founding eateries, offering up delicious stick-to-your-ribs favorites under the watchful eyes of the colorful flying pig mural and dynamic art from local artists.

Menu options include chicken andouille hash, shrimp & grits and salmon cakes, as well as classic fare like a crunchy French toast and eggs benedict. They also have a spacious back patio perfect for summer mornings.

11. Nellie’s Restaurant

Melding American classics and Puerto Rican favorites, this stop for breakfast in Chicago is located in Humboldt Park amid the neighborhood’s thriving Puerto Rican arts and culture corridor.

They are famous for the avena de coco, a bowl of coconut oatmeal, as well as their take on the breakfast jibarito, a sandwich made with meat and plantains.

They also have a very popular Puerto Rican breakfast buffet on weekends that has locals and visitors alike lining up outside. The interior space is bright and open with exposed brick and a casual vibe.

12. M. Henry

An Andersonville institution, this favorite for breakfasts in Chicago has a rich and varied menu that appeals to all, including fried egg sandwiches, huevos borrachos (“drunken eggs”), black bean cakes with chorizo and a luscious lemon-raspberry French toast.

They also have many vegan and vegetarian dishes. The interior is eclectic, with a mix of artwork, exposed brick and mismatched chairs, presenting an elevated but casual feel. You can also grab and go coffee and pastries from their large bakery counter at the front. 

13. Tiztal Café

This Uptown eatery is a great place to snag a Mexican breakfast in Chicago. Including their famous chilaquiles, house-made chips topped with green salsa, eggs, Chihuahua cheese, onions, cilantro and a choice of chorizo, steak or chicken.

While the dining room is intimate and filled with bright colors and cultural accents, there is limited setting, but they have a picturesque back patio open in warmer weather that is a perfect spot for enjoying Mexican favorites and other breakfast classics like omelets, steak &  eggs,  and French toast. 

14. The Bongo Room

With two locations in Wicker Park and Andersonville, the Bongo Room has been a Chicago favorite for nearly three decades, specializing in multiple manifestations of pancakes, waffles and French toasts, including recipes like their Chocolate Tower French Toast.

While the menu gravitates toward sweet breakfasts, you can also find more savory ones, including eggs benedict, breakfast burritos and a selection of omelets.

Expect a wait on weekends for a table, especially at the Wicker Park restaurant, whose lively dining room features exposed brick, cool art and quirky Lego sculptures. 

15. Ann Sather

With multiple locations across the city, this Chicago original is known for its signature cinnamon rolls, which you can pick up to go or enjoy in one of their cozy and casual dining rooms alongside other breakfast classics, many with a Scandinavian twist.

Try their pancakes with lingonberry jam or their biscuits and gravy for something savory, served up with a choice of applesauce or chunky breakfast potatoes. A popular morning destination for all locations on weekends, expect a short wait or go during the week. 

16. Josephine's Southern Cooking

Located in the Chatham neighborhood, this soul food diner has been in business for decades, but gained national attention in 2019 when featured on an episode of “Restaurant Impossible.”

Its owner, Josephine Wade, also known as “Mother” for her warm demeanor and community outreach work, has been serving up Southern favorites and comfort food like catfish, pork chops, chicken and waffles, omelets and salmon croquettes.

The restaurant has had many famous and non-famous visitors in the past 30 years, including Aretha Franklin, Mr. T and many local and national politicians.

17. Batter & Berries

Located in Lincoln Park, this spot for breakfast in Chicago is known for its innovative French toast flights featuring lemon, blueberry, strawberry and caramel varieties and an ever-rotating menu of featured French toast specials incorporating unconventional ingredients like Oreos and caramel corn.

They also have savory options like deconstructed omelets and sweet potato waffles with fried chicken. Find them behind a bright yellow banner that fronts a similarly bright interior that is especially packed for weekend brunch, so expect a wait unless you come on a weekday to this cute breakfast place in Chicago.

Whether you are looking for an early morning meal or finishing up a long night of raucous 4 am bar going, Chicago has a wealth of options that suit every taste and yearning.

From long brunches and bottomless mimosas to quick sandwiches and great coffee, you’re sure to find a new favorite among the city’s varied and food-filled neighborhoods. 

For even more fun things to do in Chicago, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!