Best Breakfasts in Chicago and the Suburbs: Great Restaurants to Try Now

SUNNY-SIDE UP: Whether you’re in the market for a healthy meal or a carbo-bomb of yesteryear, morning in Chicago is better than ever—and we’ve got 75 ways to prove it.

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[W] = WEEKEND ONLY  [S] = SUNDAY ONLY

DIXIE KITCHEN & BAIT SHOP
This homage to Southern cooking has so much bric-a-brac, it looks like a rummage sale gone wild. But someone in the kitchen must have the patent on fried green tomatoes, eggs Sardou (hooray for artichoke hollandaise), and fried catfish (a giant juicy, crispy fillet) with eggs. The grits should be better, but the Bloody Mary means business. 825 Church St., Evanston; 847-733-9030

DODO
Usually the problem with taking kids to breakfast is not their behavior, for once—it’s the line. Dodo, a cheerily grungy spot in the meatpacking district, never seems to have one, and its playful menu shifts from ambitious stuff like Japanese pancakes and hash with andouille sausage to a triple stack of pancakes with melty chocolate chips. 954 W. Fulton Market; 312-226-5300

FEED
With kitschy barn décor, including a mounted jackalope, this child-friendly Southerner feels like the most fortuitous of road trip discoveries. And fortunately, there’s no attempt to gussy up the grub. Straightforward chicken-fried steak with cheese grits—in all its gut-busting glory—is exactly what we crave as a vacation from froufrou brunches. 2803 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-489-4600

FLO
This Southwestern café, with its Bloody Marias and tremendous breakfast tacos and burritos, is tough to resist. Exhibit A: the Smothered Burrito, a thick spinach tortilla stuffed with scrambled eggs, black beans, Jack cheese, and pico de gallo, capped by a homemade sauce made with red chilies that come straight from a farmer in New Mexico. 1434 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-243-0477

FLYING SAUCER
The blasé crowd, which seems to consist of artists, musicians, and people with beards, is way too cool to express its love for the veg-friendly fare at this rugged hipster clubhouse. We’re not. The La Bazza Bowl (brown rice, eggs, black beans, sautéed veggies, tofu, kale, and Chihuahua cheese wrapped in corn tortillas) is great. 1123 N. California Ave.; 773-342-9076

FRED’S AT BARNEYS
Hidden inside an opulent Gold Coast department store, Fred’s has a breakfast that beats those at nearby hotels by a Mag Mile. Window seats offer a morning-after view of Rush Street, and the kitchen offers indulgences such as double-cheese omelets, brioche French toast, and smoked pork hash (with alluring burned edges). If Fred’s is too rich for your blood, forget Barneys. [W] 15 E. Oak St.; 312-596-1111

GAIL’S CARRIAGE INN & PANCAKE HOUSE
So what if you’re the youngest person eating here? Gotta love a place that has a menu of weekend breakfast specials as long as your arm, with the likes of biscuits and gravy (which often sells out) and French toast featuring homemade blueberry bread. That’s in addition to oodles of regular dishes, such as burrito-size hash-brown-encrusted omelets and oven-baked apple pancakes. They are pretty special too. 1145 S. Elmhurst Rd., Des Plaines; 847-758-9407

HOTCHOCOLATE
It’s a given that Mindy Segal is going to nail the sweet stuff, but the true finds are her breakfast sandwiches. Simple in theory but well executed, with bright vegetables and fluffy eggs stacked on house-made buttery brioche or pumpernickel, these beauts more than hold their own next to the toothsome doughnuts. [W] 1747 N. Damen Ave.; 773-489-1747

INA’S
Only Ina Pinkney, the self-proclaimed Breakfast Queen of Chicago, could make scrapple into something romantic. She serves a pan-fried brick of cornmeal (studded with corn kernels, black beans, and Cheddar), eight thick andouille sausage wedges, and two perfect sunny-side-up eggs separately. As you dig in, flavors mix slowly, like teenagers at a dance; soon they’re waltzing like old flames. 1235 W. Randolph St.; 312-226-8227

JAM
As is commonly the case with spots named for a particular item, Jam’s jam isn’t its pièce de résistance; in fact, this neighborhood haunt excels in nearly everything. Savory and sweet share the spotlight, so opt for a half order of tender malted French toast and chase it with the egg sandwich stuffed with pork shoulder. 937 N. Damen Ave.; 773-489-0302 (mid-October, Jam expects to relocate to 3059 W. Logan Blvd.; 773-292-6011)

JAM N’ HONEY
Nutella plays a prominent role at this decidedly unhip newcomer near DePaul. Pancakes, French toast, and waffles can all be prepared using the stuff, but there’s also a giant jar of it on every table—just in case something needs a little fix. The regular waffles did. The veggie burrito, however, got everything right, and how often is a place willing to adjust the overhead vent to make you more comfortable? 958 W. Webster Ave.; 773-327-5266

KAPPY’S
The aromas of bacon and coffee hit you the moment you walk in the door, so by the time you wind your way through this big old-fashioned dining room, your tummy is doing nip-ups. Calm it down with soft scrambled eggs loaded with nubbins of zesty kosher salami or tender blintzes filled with a rich, fluffy cheese blend. 7200 W. Dempster St., Morton Grove; 847-470-1900

LA FRANCE CAFÉ & CRÊPES
At this sweet 25-seat boîte, the galette aux oeufs can be had with two eggs any style, three ingredients from a selection of five, and one cheese from a list of five—meaning the permutations are many. In a classic case of less is more, eggs over medium paired with a buckwheat crêpe gently folded around spinach, ham, and Gruyère was un grand succès. 939 S. Main St., Lombard; 630-613-9511

Photograph: Anna Knott; Food Stylist: Mary Valentin

This article appears in the November 2011 issue of Chicago magazine.

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