Fluffy pancakes smothered in original maple syrup, loaded omelettes, crispy bacon, savory breakfast burritos, fresh fruit bowls, and unlimited coffee – Los Angeles brings to you an infinite array of breakfast options you can savor.
From much-loved classics to globally-inspired fusion breakfast places, bougie restaurants to budget-friendly diners, LA has it all, and the following best breakfast Los Angeles list covers the best of the best.
1. Jacks N Joe
Operating for over a decade, Jacks N Joe – the short form of “flapjacks and a cup of joe” – is USC’s go-to spot for breakfast and brunch. This is an all-day-breakfast kinda place, with an airy, bright, welcoming, and cosy atmosphere, complemented by fast and friendly service.
Jacks N Joe is flapjacks/pancakes paradise! The WTF?! is one of their most popular options. The plate has 6 crazy-shaped pancakes, topped with sweet cream cheese, seasonal berries, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. It is simple, wholesome, and delicious!
Another crazy yummy variation is “Fight On!”. These are buttermilk pancakes with bacon in the mix and topped with butter. The pancakes are nicely warm and fluffy, and you get a satisfying feeling whenever you bite a piece of salty and crispy bacon in between.
For your sweet tooth, there are options like Roo’s Favorite (chocolate chip pancakes); but, if you want something healthy, go with Tree Huggers. These are buckwheat pancakes topped with house-made granola, fresh berries, sweet orange butter, and a light sprinkle of powdered sugar. The pancakes are light yet filling, and the sweet orange butter steals the spotlight!
7 Minutes in Heaven brings you 3 huge slices of fluffy and sweet French toast topped with Nutella, fresh strawberries, bananas, butter, and powdered sugar. The combination of fresh fruits, thick and fluffy bread, and sweet Nutella hits the spot!
For your side, go with the Portuguese Sausage. They’re so good, you could eat just the sausages for your breakfast!
What to order: WTF?!, “Fight On!”, Roo’s Favorite, Tree Huggers, 7 Minutes in Heaven, Portuguese Sausage
Address: 2498 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
2. Fratelli Cafe
Established in 2008, Fratelli is a European-style cafe serving breakfast all day, and also full lunch and drinks. The menu here features several vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, and the atmosphere is casual and family-friendly, featuring plenty of outdoor seating as well.
Fratelli’s Signature Croissant French Toast is so good, you’d want everyone you know to try it! Served with blueberries and strawberries, it tastes absolutely wonderful.
You know what’s better than a croissant French toast? Choco Croissant French Toast! Yes, topped with Nutella, bananas, and powdered sugar, this dish is pure sin that tastes heavenly!
The New breakfast burrito is everything you expect in a breakfast, wrapped in a soft tortilla. You get a nice kick from the chorizo and jalapenos, and this easy grab-n-go breakfast is really good.
The Chilaquiles from their Breakfast Specialties list is a superbly savoury dish. You can choose between red or green sauce (red is our favourite!), and the dish is rich, cheesy, and sooooo yummy!
When you visit Fratelli Cafe, you cannot leave without trying one of their fresh juices. The Bleeding Heart juice is an amazing and refreshing concoction of beets, orange, ginger, and lemon; it is so delicious, your body will ask for more!
What to order: Signature Croissant French Toast, Choco Croissant French Toast, The New, Chilaquiles, Bleeding Heart
Address: 7200 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046
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3. The Original Pantry Cafe
Opened in 1924, The Original Pantry Cafe is a local favourite. This iconic diner takes pride in serving classic American fare to locals and tourists alike. The place still holds the nostalgic spirit of having served celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, and is a Cultural Heritage Monument. Midnight cravings or early morning bites, this is the place to be in LA.
The Original Pantry Cafe is popular for many things, one of which is their signature Sourdough French Toast. Thick, fluffy, and with the perfect level of sweetness, this French toast easily scores a 10/10.
If you haven’t tried Ham Steak before, you got to try the one here. Beautifully browned and cooked, the meat has a slight sweetness to it and tastes so darn delicious. Served with potatoes and toast, Ham Steak and Eggs at The Original Pantry Cafe is worthy of a double thumbs up!
This place is famous for its desserts too. You get some classics like Peach Cobbler and Apple Pie, which taste authentic, just like granny used to make!
What to order: Sourdough French Toast, Sourdough Toast, Ham Steak and Eggs, Peach Cobbler, Apple Pie
Address: 877 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017
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4. Blu Jam Cafe
As one of the best breakfast brunch spots in LA, Blu Jam Cafe is the kind of place where everybody knows your name and you feel welcomed and comfortable right from your first visit. As a restaurant with no freezers (can you believe it?!). The kitchen here sends out only the freshest food with carefully picked ingredients, to be enjoyed in a cozy and relaxed atmosphere.
Crunchy French Toast is Blu Jam Cafe’s signature dish. With an exclusive spot on their menu, the brioche is super crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. The vanilla bean sauce on the side is a match made in heaven!
The Blu Jam Benedict is incredible. For your side, do get the grilled potatoes; they are crispy, soft, and so delicious, you could eat a plate of those just as they are.
The Breakfast Quesadilla, loaded with juicy braised pulled chicken, scrambled eggs, black beans, and more, comes in a huge portion, and every bit tastes extraordinary, making you want to take another bite immediately after.
What to order: Crunchy French Toast, Blu Jam Benedict, Breakfast Quesadilla, Migas
Address:
-Atwater Village – 3224 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039
-Hollywood – 7371 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046
-Downtown Los Angeles – 541 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
-Brentwood – 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
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5. Nick’s Cafe
Another culinary gem that has been serving the people of LA for over 70 years, Nick’s Cafe is widely known for great food, generous portions, and exceptional service. From making their own burgers to Nick’s secret recipe salsa, this historic breakfast place is the real deal.
Ham has been the specialty of Nick’s for decades, which means your first order here should obviously be Nick’s Famous Ham N Eggs. Beautifully caramelised throughout with a brown sugar glaze, and with a subtle smoky flavour, the ham is definitely the star of the plate and extremely tasty.
If you like Chilaquiles, you should try Nick’s Cafe’s variation of the dish. Sonora – chilaquiles with scrambled eggs, nopales, some veggies, and cheese – a mouthwatering variation of the classic Mexican breakfast. You can also get a vegan version of this dish – Vegan Sonora, which is completely veggie based.
The West Coast Benedict, with crispy bacon, spinach, fresh tomato, avocado, eggs, and hollandaise, is just perfect!
For a flavour-bomb of breakfast, try Nick’s Machaca skillet. It has tender and juicy shredded beef accompanied by fluffy scrambled eggs, jalapenos, veggies, and cheese, and tastes absolutely BOMB. If there’s anything that can make this dish even better, it would be adding a generous helping of Nick’s homemade salsa to it.
What to order: Nick’s Famous Ham N Eggs, Sonora, Vegan Sonora, West Coast Benedict, Machaca Skillet
Address: 1300 N Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
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6. Honey Hi
A popular daytime spot on Sunset Boulevard, Honey Hi serves delicious food that makes you feel good. Yes, the menu is completely refined sugar-free, gluten-free, and GMO-free, thanks to the chef/nutritionist owner’s vision. Everything here is fresh and healthy, and the atmosphere is bright and welcoming.
One of the most popular, simple, and nutritious dishes here is the Miso Bowl. Loaded with lots and lots of veggies, along with jasmine rice and chicken thigh, this bowl comes with enjoyably intense flavours, and tastes absolutely awesome.
Their Breakfast Sandwich is so good, it can cure hangovers! The gluten-free buckwheat sourdough bread is warm, crusty, and crispy, and the avocado mash along with caramelized fennel and onions adds a refreshing flavor to the sandwich. While the sandwich comes with a sunny side-up egg as default, you can have your egg made to your preference (fried, poached, scrambled, etc.).
The Thai Green Curry bowl is hearty, aromatic, and full of flavour. Add to the bowl a protein of your choice, and enjoy it to your heart’s content.
Honey Hi also offers a variety of healthy and refreshing smoothies, and the go-to order for many is the No FOMO.
And, don’t forget to grab one of their GF Chocolate Chip Cookies. It is DELICIOUS!
What to order: Miso Bowl, Breakfast Sandwich, Thai Green Curry bowl, No FOMO, GF Chocolate Chip Cookie
Address: 1620 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
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7. Nickel Diner
Serving some of the best donuts in Southern California, Nickel Diner is a vintage-style diner sporting a 1940’s era vibe, and serving sweet and savoury American fare. Competing with many decade-old LA favourites, Nickel Diner has managed to steal people’s hearts with its incredible food.
Available on Saturdays and Sundays only, the Very Berry French Toast comes loaded with berries and cream, and is an absolute killer.
Nickel Diner’s Huevos Rancheros is truly authentic, and one of the best in the area.
Hungover from a fun night out? The Hangover Helper is here to help! The dish has scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, cheese, avocado, and homemade salsa; surprisingly, it does the trick! Pair it with a cup of coffee, and you’re good to go.
Daddy’s Breakfast Burrito is huge, filling, and flavourful. Loaded with all the good stuff, from chorizo to mushrooms to eggs, giving this dish a permanent place in your tummy is definitely a good idea!
Visiting Nickel’s Diner and not trying their famous Maple Bacon Donut would be a sin! Available on Saturdays and Sundays, this donut, smothered in bacon bits, is necromantic, magical, and all the other words you can remember for extraordinary!
What to order: Very Berry French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, Hangover Helper, Daddy’s Breakfast Burrito, Maple Bacon Donut
Address: 524 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
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8. Millie’s Cafe
A no-frills breakfast staple spot, Millie’s Cafe, with two locations in California, has been serving home-style American breakfast and lunch since 1926. Everything here is made the old-fashioned way, by hand and from scratch, and the place definitely has an old-world charm to it.
Devil’s Mess, a Millie’s classic, is a huge portion of scrambled eggs with their popular cajun-spiced turkey sausage, loads of cheese, and oozes with flavour. It is mildly spicy and phenomenally delicious.
The Chilaquiles Benedict is two breakfast specials in one – chilaquiles + eggs benedict. You’ll notice that every mouthful of this dish is enjoyably savoury with well-rounded flavours.
Special mention to Millie’s Crab Benedict. You get freshly homemade crab cakes, not any imitation stuff, topped with two perfectly poached eggs, creamy and yum hollandaise sauce, and a sprinkle of paprika, everything resting on a toasted English muffin. Exquisite!
The Banana Walnut Pancakes here are to die for – thick, fluffy, filling, and satisfying!
Enjoy your breakfast at Millie’s Cafe with their famous Golden Matcha Latte or Dirty Chai Latte.
What to order: Devil’s Mess, Chilaquiles Benedict, Crab Benedict, Banana Walnut Pancakes, Golden Matcha Latte, Dirty Chai Latte
Address: 3524 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
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9. CJ’s Cafe
Another long-running spot, CJ’s Cafe offers made-to-order breakfast specialties, delivering rich taste using high-quality ingredients. The breakfast menu here includes traditional American and Mexican dishes, and the space is casual and friendly.
The Special Wings breakfast served with waffles, pancakes, or French toast and two eggs is a hit at CJ’s. First of all, the wings are HUGE; they are seasoned well and are battered and cooked to perfection – juicy on the inside and crunchy outside. The waffle is slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, and you can notice a slight sweetness, which goes well with the savoury chicken.
Served with rice, beans, and tortillas, the Huevos Rancheros is one of the yummiest dishes on the menu here. Everything on the plate tastes fresh, and the flavours are on point.
The Breakfast Burrito here is too good, you’ll leave the place determined to revisit very soon!
Catfish & Eggs is a unique breakfast combo offered by CJ’s Cafe. The catfish is lightly breaded and fried to become golden and crispy, without being greasy and overwhelmingly crunchy; the fish is fresh and soft in the middle and is served with two eggs cooked to your preference.
What to order: Special Wings, Huevos Rancheros, Breakfast Burrito, Catfish & Eggs
Address:
-La Brea – 3655 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90016
-Pico Blvd. – 5501 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
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10. République Café Bakery & République Restaurant
Residing in a historic building that was erected by Charlie Chaplin in 1929, République is a modern French eatery that emanates history, class, and grandeur. Found on almost every “best LA restaurants” list, everything about this place – from the elegantly majestic interiors to the mouthwatering food and drinks – is breathtaking.
Made fresh every day, This Morning’s Bread at République is the best way to start your morning breakfast here. Slather your bread with a generous amount of French butter and jam, served on the side, and enjoy!
You HAVE TO try the Shakshouka here. It has velvety eggs and savoury, spicy, and salty baked tomatoes and peppers as its base; the warm and crusty baguette acts as the perfect scoop for the dish, and the yoghurt on top cleanses your palate after every bite. Though there is a lot going on here, it just makes sense!
With a vast display of pastries, made fresh and served warm, you will be tempted to try at least a couple of them.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try the Milk Chocolate Croissant. The butter croissant is warm and flaky, and the heavy dose of chocolate in it makes it irresistible.
For something meaty and filling, go with either the Kimchi Fried Rice or the Short Rib Breakfast Burrito (or both!). They are both heavenly in their own right.
What to order: This Morning’s Bread, Shakshouka, Milk Chocolate Croissant, Kimchi Fried Rice, Short Rib Breakfast Burrito
Address: 624 S La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036
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11. Cow Cafe
Cow Cafe, located in Downtown Los Angeles, is a health-oriented, vegetarian and mediterranean-inspired spot, serving interesting eats and drinks. The space is small, casual, and cosy with great energy, and the service is always prompt.
A good Avocado Toast can be the only morning fuel required by many. If you’re one such person, Cow Cafe will not disappoint you. Made with perfectly toasted country bread, you get avocado, over-easy egg, housemade garlic aioli, and spices, everything in just the right proportions to make this a proper, solid, and fantastic avocado toast.
The Avocado Wrap is just as good, and a lot more filling. Wrapped in a thin, soft, and charred lavash flatbread, the filling contains a medley of veggies along with rich, smooth, and garlicky housemade hummus, which makes everything sing.
The Harissa Scramble packs a punch with the smoky and spicy harissa, and the buttered country toast it comes with is amazing too.
Cow Cafe’s Lentil Soup has a fan following of its own. This fibre-rich soup is savoury, with a hint of natural sweetness, and the house-made pita chips it comes with are just perfect to be dipped into the soup. Such a stellar combination!
What to order: Avocado Toast, Avocado Wrap, Harissa Scramble, Lentil Soup, Chai Latte
Address: 342 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015
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12. Aladdin Coffee Shop
A lovely neighbourhood cafe, Aladdin Coffee Shop is the kind of place you’ll always want to visit and will be glad you did, every single time. Operating for more than 40 years, this place serves American, Mexican, and Salvadoran classics, buffet-style, and a-la-carte. The vibe here is nice and cosy, and the restaurant is family-friendly as well.
Aladdin is a local favourite for breakfast burritos. The Breakfast Burrito here is authentically Mexican, enormous, and gives you a taste of heaven in every bite. It is so delicious, you’ll be eagerly waiting for your next encounter with the dish!
Note: you can customise your breakfast burrito by adding your favourite fillings.
Don’t forget to get yourself the Tacos de Papa. These Mexican potato tacos are crispy, golden, and a meat-free delight.
How about some meat for your morning? The Carne Asada Tacos come with juicy and tender strips of meat, on soft tortillas; topped with fresh onions and homemade salsa, the tacos taste great.
What to order: Breakfast Burrito, Tacos de Papa, Carne Asada Tacos
Address: 1150 S Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
13. Gritz N Wafflez
A new entrant in the sea of long-running breakfast places in LA, Grits N Wafflez is a Creole-inspired restaurant specialising in two items – grits and waffles. The focus of the restaurant is on soul food, served in a super nice setting, and backed by attentive service.
For something simple, try the Sweet Vanilla Bean Waffle. With slightly crispy edges, and light and fluffy in the middle, with a hint of vanilla in the background, this waffle is perfect in every way.
The Peach Cobbler Waffle is another yummylicious item from the menu. Yes, it is everything you expect it to be!
Next on our list is the marvellous Crunchy Cinnamon Toast. These are Texas Toast, thickly sliced, and caramelised with butter. They are sweet and boast a nice cinnamon flavour. You can add mixed berries or peach cobbler filling to your toast for an additional cost.
We’re done with waffles, what about grits?
You can get BOMB Shrimp N’ Gritz here. You can have your shrimp fried or sauteed, which will be served on their signature whipped parmesan and cheddar grits – guaranteed, you’re unlikely to have had shrimp n’ grits quite like the one here!
What to order: Sweet Vanilla Bean Waffle, Peach Cobbler Waffle, Crunchy Cinnamon Toast, Shrimp N’ Grits
Address: 1243 S Alvarado Street B1, Los Angeles, CA 90006
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14. Homegirl Cafe
Homegirl Cafe is a women-run farm-to-table restaurant serving delicious Latin fare in a dynamic, feel-good environment. From tacos to grilled cheese sandwiches, everything here is made with fresh ingredients, and you also get freshly baked goods from Homeboy Bakery.
The restaurant is home to one of the best Chilaquiles in town. Available with red or green sauce, it is mildly spicy, and the combination of crispy tortilla chips, savoury and spicy sauce, and gooey cheese makes this dish a hot seller.
For a light vegetarian option, try the Homegirl Signature Granola. This is dried cranberry and orange granola with fresh berries; you can have yours served with milk or plain yoghurt – Tasty + Healthy!
While their Buttermilk Pancakes with real maple syrup and whipped butter excite us, the Mango Upside-Down Cornbread fascinates us more. It looks good and tastes even better, and makes a wonderful breakfast treat.
If you like your morning drink hot, go with the Mexican Chocolate; for cold drink lovers, there’s Angela’s Green Potion that shouldn’t be missed.
What to order: Chilaquiles, Homegirl Signature Granola, Buttermilk Pancakes, Mango Upside-Down Cornbread, Mexican Chocolate, Angela’s Green Potion
Address: 130 Bruno Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Now that breakfast is out of the way, let’s talk about lunch and/or dinner. How about Italian? Allow us to entice you to these amazing Italian restaurants in LA.