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Breakfast is the meal that launched a thousand trends: bacon, acai bowls, all the manners of toasts and tartines, and yes, brunch. Somehow, though, there's still plenty of places in Los Angeles that haveescaped the hype/backlash cycle that's dogged all of the above—plus the slate of newer, chef-driven restaurants that turn into madhouses on late Sunday mornings.
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To round up the best of the best, we not only looked through the latter, but delved into greasy spoons, old-school diners and the city's third wave coffee shops, plusthe city's various Asian breakfast options to bring you the all-around best list of breakfasts in Los Angeles. Some are casual and budget-friendly, others less so, but all of them deliver a hearty, filling and delicious meal to start your day off right. Without further ado:here are our picks for the best breakfast restaurants in the city
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Walter and Margarita Manzke's Californian-French eatery offers an artisan breakfast menu on both weekdays and weekends (a word of warning: the late morning brunch scene gets particularly intense). Years in, the ever-changing pastry selection and now-iconic dishes like the ricotta toast topped with seasonal fruit and wildflower honey never fail to please—and a weekday breakfast here is one of the quieter ways to experience one of the best restaurants in the city. As you take in the space's high ceilings and faux-rustic charms, don’t forget the legacy of it all: Built in 1929, the building first served as Charlie Chaplin's office before becoming home to the late Mark Peel and Nancy Silverton's Campanile—so those Benedicts and croissants come with a side of history.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by D E S T R O Y E R (@destroyer.la) No detail goes unaccounted for at Destroyer, where otherworldly presentation and high-quality ingredients combine for the most aesthetically pleasing breakfast (and brunch) in town. Helmed by Jordan Kahn, the same critically acclaimed chef behind nearby Michelin-starred Vespertine, the pricey, counter service-style daytime café draws crowds on late weekend morning, but arrive early or come on a weekday to slather house-cultured butter with seasonal jam on their Icelandic seeded rye bread or dig into the avocado confit—Destroyer's truly high-fashion take on avocado toast.
Homesick Texans, eat your heart out. L.A.'s favorite Tex-Mex specialist has five outposts across the city (Hollywood, Highland Park, Playa Vista, Pasadena and Sherman Oaks), so first-rate queso, breakfast tacos and migas are never that far out of reach. Fluffy scrambled eggs pile into fresh corn or flour tortillas with just about any filling your heart can imagine and the casual atmosphere encourages taking it easy, while frozen margaritas, palomas and ranch water—a refreshing blend of Topo Chico, tequila and lime—make for a too-easy slide from morning into afternoon if you’re in the mood for day drinking. Wine, beer and cocktails available.
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The longtime 101 Coffee Shop now has a fresh coat of paint, a well-stocked pastry case and the same old-school fare in the care of Zack Hall and the team behind Clark Street Bakery, and that's exactly how we like it. Unlike a true greasy spoon, the no-frills breakfast food is carefully cooked and seasoned—meaning you'll have a delicious morning meal here, every time, plus access to some of the city's finest pastries. For more casual counter service, head to the Clark Street outposts in Echo Park, Brentwood and Downtown's Grand Central Market, where you can enjoy fried egg sandwiches and housemade bagels with lox in a quicker, more takeout-friendly patio setting.
With three locations in Culver City, Woodland Hills and Pico-Robertson, Alexander Phaneuf and Or Amsalam's once-tiny bakery focused on naturally leavened breads has grown into a best-in-class breakfast destination in its own right. The same detail-oriented baking process goes into Lodge Bread's excellent coffee cake and other pastries, as well as toasts and sandwiches, and the tea and coffee are top-notch as well. Indulge in their humongous cinnamon rolls slathered with cream cheese icing, or opt for the toast topped with ricotta and jam; for those who prefer savory over sweet, the luscious eggplant hummus with the Jerusalem bagel or a warm piece of pita will more than satisfy.
Though the ranch-to-table ethos might no longer generate as much buzz today, Salt's Cure's pancake-oriented offshoot, Breakfast by Salt's Cure, is one of the best breakfast options in the city. Head to West Hollywood and Santa Monica (as well NYC’s West Village) for chef-owner Chris Phelps's effortlessly delicious griddle cakes and a casual order-at-the-counter situation, or visit the Hollywood original starting at 9am for the full-service experience. Either way, Salt's Cure has become our favorite laidback breakfast and brunch destination to keep in our back pocket—and hopefully, it'll soon be yours too.
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The newer, larger second location of Vivian Ku’s beloved Silver Lake eatery offers a major menu upgrade: Taiwanese breakfast staples like purple rice fan tuan and daikon rice cakes from 8am to 11am. Luscious thousand-layer pancakes stuffed with basil and cheese, plus a smattering of other dishes from Highland Park’s Joy on York, are available as well. The Downtown outpost’s expansive open-air patio, plentiful seating and relatively central location make for a wonderful, centrally located Taiwanese breakfast—and if you arrive for a late breakfast, you can turn it into brunch as well.
Run by third-generation Little Tokyo local Glen Ishii, thiscafé blends traditions old and new alike with mouthwatering Japanese-influenced breakfast fare. Paying homage to Tokyo Café, the space's previous iteration founded by Ishii's grandmother, JiST serves a classic ketchup omurice and the must-order chashu hash, made using a secret marinade first used over 70 years ago. Served with breakfast potatoes and two six-minute eggs, it's the perfect dish for sharing alongside the JiST's French toast, which is pre-soaked in a crème brûlée base for 24 hours. We also enjoy the weekend-only Lucky Ducky: a Chinese scallion pancake topped with eggs sunny side up, duck confit and slices of orange.
If your ideal breakfast is at a greasy spoon, this cash-only diner in downtown Culver City is the place for you. Delicious, hearty dishes like biscuits and gravy and country fried steak are most people's go-to orders here, though you'd be equally as happy with one of their platter-sized pancakes generously studded with chocolate chips or blueberries. Plus, unlike most other breakfast and brunch restaurants in town, S&W's retro ambience and everyday crowd dials way, way back on the tryhard L.A. vibes, making this locals' onlyspot our favorite place to let our hair down before 2pm.
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For the past 40 years, John O'Groats has offered the best no-frills breakfast and lunch on the Westside, plus some of the best biscuits, fried chicken and fish and chips in town. Weekend morning waits can get hectic, but the friendly staff and generally relaxed crowd of families and locals keep the process of dining at this beloved daytime eatery from feeling far less stressful as some others on this list. Everything is simple and made with care, but what we like best of all is the utter lack of pretension on display here, every day of the week.
Known and locally renowned for its affordable Taiwanese breakfast menu, Huge Tree Pastry is a no-frills spot in a Monterey Park strip mall that offers several excellent budget-friendly dishes, including fantuan: bundles of sweet purple or white wrapped around scrambled egg, fried youtiao (cruller doughnuts), pork floss and pickles. You can also find scallion pancakes, pan-fried radish cakes, baked sesame bread and full-sized youtiao, which are perfect for dipping into a cup of steaming hot soymilk (available in both sweet or salty). Note: Cash only.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Serving Spoon (@theservingspoon) For almost four decades, this Inglewood eatery has served the South L.A. neighborhood heaping breakfast platters, plus daily specials like smothered oxtails (Wednesdays) and chittlins (Fridays and Saturdays). While the wait for a table can climb up to an hour on weekends, early mornings and weekdays are generally a less chaotic way to enjoy the Serving Spoon's old-school French toast with fried chicken or one of their combination breakfast plates. Slide into one of the diner's red leather booths or take a seat at one of the wooden stools at the counter—there's nothing like a hearty breakfast to start the day.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee (@otus_thaikitchen) On the far end of West Hollywood, June Intrachat's modern Thai restaurant quietly serves one of the only Thai breakfast offerings in town, and it's even offered all day. Highlights of the breakfast and lunch menu includes khao kai jiew (Thai ground chicken omelet) rice bowl and the It's a Joke, Intrachat's signature rice porridge. For a Thai take on your average breakfast skillet, order the kai-kata—a flavorful, savory blend of fried eggs, lap cheong sausage and ground chicken topped with green onions and served with a side of sliced baguette.
One of the
The newer, larger second location of Vivian Ku’s beloved Silver Lake eatery offers a major menu upgrade: Taiwanese breakfast staples like purple rice fan tuan and daikon rice cakes from 8am to 11am. Luscious thousand-layer pancakes stuffed with basil and cheese, plus a smattering of other dishes from Highland Park’s Joy on York, are available as well. The Downtown outpost’s expansive open-air patio, plentiful seating and relatively central location make for a wonderful, centrally located Taiwanese breakfast—and if you arrive for a late breakfast, you can turn it into brunch as well.
Run by third-generation Little Tokyo local Glen Ishii, thiscafé blends traditions old and new alike with mouthwatering Japanese-influenced breakfast fare. Paying homage to Tokyo Café, the space's previous iteration founded by Ishii's grandmother, JiST serves a classic ketchup omurice and the must-order chashu hash, made using a secret marinade first used over 70 years ago. Served with breakfast potatoes and two six-minute eggs, it's the perfect dish for sharing alongside the JiST's French toast, which is pre-soaked in a crème brûlée base for 24 hours. We also enjoy the weekend-only Lucky Ducky: a Chinese scallion pancake topped with eggs sunny side up, duck confit and slices of orange.
If your ideal breakfast is at a greasy spoon, this cash-only diner in downtown Culver City is the place for you. Delicious, hearty dishes like biscuits and gravy and country fried steak are most people's go-to orders here, though you'd be equally as happy with one of their platter-sized pancakes generously studded with chocolate chips or blueberries. Plus, unlike most other breakfast and brunch restaurants in town, S&W's retro ambience and everyday crowd dials way, way back on the tryhard L.A. vibes, making this locals' onlyspot our favorite place to let our hair down before 2pm.
Best Healthy Breakfast Ideas
For the past 40 years, John O'Groats has offered the best no-frills breakfast and lunch on the Westside, plus some of the best biscuits, fried chicken and fish and chips in town. Weekend morning waits can get hectic, but the friendly staff and generally relaxed crowd of families and locals keep the process of dining at this beloved daytime eatery from feeling far less stressful as some others on this list. Everything is simple and made with care, but what we like best of all is the utter lack of pretension on display here, every day of the week.
Known and locally renowned for its affordable Taiwanese breakfast menu, Huge Tree Pastry is a no-frills spot in a Monterey Park strip mall that offers several excellent budget-friendly dishes, including fantuan: bundles of sweet purple or white wrapped around scrambled egg, fried youtiao (cruller doughnuts), pork floss and pickles. You can also find scallion pancakes, pan-fried radish cakes, baked sesame bread and full-sized youtiao, which are perfect for dipping into a cup of steaming hot soymilk (available in both sweet or salty). Note: Cash only.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Serving Spoon (@theservingspoon) For almost four decades, this Inglewood eatery has served the South L.A. neighborhood heaping breakfast platters, plus daily specials like smothered oxtails (Wednesdays) and chittlins (Fridays and Saturdays). While the wait for a table can climb up to an hour on weekends, early mornings and weekdays are generally a less chaotic way to enjoy the Serving Spoon's old-school French toast with fried chicken or one of their combination breakfast plates. Slide into one of the diner's red leather booths or take a seat at one of the wooden stools at the counter—there's nothing like a hearty breakfast to start the day.
Best Egg Recipes For Easy Meals
View this post on Instagram A post shared by OTUS Thai Kitchen & Coffee (@otus_thaikitchen) On the far end of West Hollywood, June Intrachat's modern Thai restaurant quietly serves one of the only Thai breakfast offerings in town, and it's even offered all day. Highlights of the breakfast and lunch menu includes khao kai jiew (Thai ground chicken omelet) rice bowl and the It's a Joke, Intrachat's signature rice porridge. For a Thai take on your average breakfast skillet, order the kai-kata—a flavorful, savory blend of fried eggs, lap cheong sausage and ground chicken topped with green onions and served with a side of sliced baguette.
One of the