On the Road Eats: FN-Approved Breakfast Spots

Make the most-important meal of the day the most delicious with Food Network-approved breakfast favorites from around the country.

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Breakfast Coast to Coast

With coast-to-coast picks, including the award-winning blueberry pancakes at New York's Clinton St. Baking Co., gooey cinnamon buns at Chicago restaurant Ann Sather and eggs Benedict made with fresh Dungeness crab at Lowell's Restaurant & Bar in Seattle's famed Pike Place Market, you're sure to find a delicious reason to rise and shine — and dine.

Photo courtesy of Clinton St. Baking Co.

Bottega Louie — Los Angeles

This cavernous restaurant offers an extensive menu of savory Italian dishes, including an ocean-inspired morning medley of Lobster Hash with poached eggs and paprika hollandaise. Save room for sweets that lure dessert-obsessed fans like Brooke Burke-Charvet. Her go-to treat is the tiramisu.
Recommended Dish: Lobster Hash

Go to: Bottega Louie

Magnolia Pancake Haus — San Antonio

Magnolia Pancake Haus Chef-Owner Robert Fleming is "raising the bar on breakfast" with the restaurant's high-quality, made-from-scratch morning meals, according to Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Come for the light and airy Buttermilk Pancakes the restaurant proudly calls "The World's Best," and stay for the deliciously unique Pfannekuchen, Bavarian puffed pancakes packed full of Granny Smith apples, zesty cinnamon and secret spices. For a savory spin on a breakfast classic, Guy recommends the "ingenious" Bacon Waffle.
Recommended Dish: Bacon Waffle

Go to: Magnolia Pancake Haus

Grampa's Bakery & Restaurant — Dania Beach, Florida

Guy visited this home-style family breakfast joint in Dania Beach and deemed the comfort food “righteous” on Triple D. He’s not the only one who likes it: The homemade pancakes draw a crowd, and not just for breakfast, but all day long. Guy dug in, calling them “really light, but texture-y.”

Recommended Dish: Blueberry Pancakes

Go to: Grampa's Bakery & Restaurant

Ann Sather — Chicago

When the owners of this restaurant space in Chicago decided to retire, Ann quit her job of 22 years, pooled her life savings and bought herself a diner. Her devotion to made-from-scratch food, especially the giant cinnamon rolls Jeff Mauro calls "insane," is now legendary in the Lakeview neighborhood. For a more savory morning meal, choose from five flavor-packed breakfast wraps, or build your own using a variety of available ingredients.
Recommended Dish: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Go to: Ann Sather

Lowell's Restaurant & Bar — Seattle

Start your day at one of Giada De Laurentiis' favorite Seattle spots: Lowell's, housed in the famous Pike Place Market. With three floors of seating boasting stunning views of Mount Rainier and the ferries crossing Puget Sound, the legendary location calls itself "Almost classy since 1957" and uses only the freshest local ingredients to make classic breakfast dishes with a Pacific Northwest twist, like the Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict.
Recommended Dish: Dungeness Crab Eggs Benedict

Go to: Lowell's Restaurant & Bar at Pike Place Market

Hash House a Go Go — Las Vegas

Next time you're in Las Vegas, leave the overrated buffets behind in favor of hearty comfort food from Hash House a Go Go, where Rachael Ray says, "You won't find disco balls, but you will find gigantic portions." Indulge in the Fried Chicken Benedict: sage fried chicken with fresh spinach, hardwood smoked bacon, market tomatoes, griddled mozzarella, chipotle cream and scrambled eggs, all layered precariously on top of a fresh split biscuit and griddled mashed potatoes.

Recommended Dish: Fried Chicken Benedict

Go to: Hash House A Go Go

Crest Cafe — San Diego

Situated in one of San Diego's 24-hour neighborhoods, Crest Cafe serves up outrageous comfort food for both morning and night. Don't miss the ricotta French toast topped with fresh raspberries and a heap of vanilla, orange zest and honey-laced whipped cream. The plate is truly over the top, even for Guy, who stopped by for a bite on Triple D.
Recommended Dish: Raspberry Ricotta French Toast

Go to: Crest Cafe

Lankford Grocery and Market — Houston

Houstonians are known to flock to Lankford Grocery and Market for the juicy, piled-high burgers. On Triple D, Guy couldn't resist the Firehouse Burger basted with cayenne butter and loaded with hot-sauce mustard. If you're looking to kick-start your morning, Guy recommends the Texas Hash, which features roasted habanero-spiced chicken, sauteed peppers and onions, plus a rich cheese sauce spooned over crispy fried corn tortillas.
Recommended Dish: Texas Chicken Hash

Go to: Lankford Grocery and Market

Honey's Sit 'n Eat — Philadelphia

Two genres of comfort cuisine unite at this husband-and-wife-owned restaurant, where Southern classics meet Jewish flair. Guy thought the brisket Frito platter — twice-cooked brisket topped with corn chips — was "incredibly enjoyable." The chicken chili Frito pie garnered praise for its guajillo chicken, and the locals rave about the warming matzo ball soup. But for brunch, there's nothing quite like the behemoth plate of Huevos Rancheros, a medley of refried beans, salsa and shredded cheese piled onto two fresh corn tortillas, then crowned with two fried eggs and sour cream.

Recommended Dish: Huevos Rancheros

Go to: Honey's Sit 'n Eat

Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House — Wilmette, Illinois

This beloved Illinois franchise may be known for its fluffy buttermilk pancakes, but on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Melissa d'Arabian took a moment to wax poetic for the restaurant's "cheesiest, meltiest and tastiest" oven-baked bacon and cheese omelet. The eatery's secret? The three eggs that go into the omelet are whipped to make the resulting product extra fluffy and moist. Best of all, the omelet comes with a stack of pancakes, so you can sample a taste of the restaurant's namesake.

Recommended Dish: Oven-Baked Omelets

Go to: Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House

Milktooth — Indianapolis

Housed in a converted auto-body garage, Milktooth offers innovative brunch dishes like the sweet-and-savory mash-up known as the BLT Dutch Baby Pancake. A puffy, pastrylike base made from pancake batter is topped with aioli and bacon jam, then loaded with peppery strips of bacon, marinated tomatoes and fresh greens.
Recommended Dish: BLT Dutch Baby Pancake

Go to: Milktooth

Jam — Chicago

Jam quickly became Jeff's go-to brunch spot, not only because the chef is named Jeffrey Mauro, but also because he’s a fan of the breakfast sandwiches and other morning staples. The menu is loaded with creative twists on brunch classics, like Malted Custard French Toast. This popular dish is topped with a macerated cherry puree laced with pink peppercorns for a floral note.
Recommended Dish: Malted Custard French Toast

Go to: Jam

Pinewood Social — Nashville

At Pinewood Social, classic steak and eggs is reimagined in the form of this comforting breakfast hash. The chefs start by cooking tri-tip meat sous-vide style for 24 hours until it’s as juicy and tender as possible. The meat is then cut against the grain and topped with fried and smashed fingerling potatoes, sauteed onions and peppers, and an egg that has been fried in clarified butter. A sumptuous veal reduction sauce finishes the hash off, infusing it with beefy flavors.
Recommended Dish: Pot Roast Hash

Go to: Pinewood Social

Silver Fork Lodge — Brighton, Utah

Look no further than this quaint bed and breakfast overlooking some of Utah's best ski runs for cozy pioneer cuisine first thing in the morning. Chef Dan Knopp, a transplant from Oswego, N.Y., serves his Corned Beef Hash with house-cured brisket and tangy Sourdough Pancakes with Apple Compote — a signature dish that's garnered the lodge well-deserved commendations from loyal local diners and media outlets alike.
Recommended Dish: Sourdough Pancakes

Go to: Silver Fork Lodge

Pies 'n' Thighs — Brooklyn

This beloved Brooklyn establishment specializes in classic American cuisine with a Southern spin. Guy loved the savory buckwheat waffles and fried chicken, both of which were light and crisp. He also devoured the addictive Butter Pecan Crunch Doughnut coated with homemade toffee.
Recommended Dish: Chicken and Waffles

Go to: Pies 'N' Thighs

Franks Diner — Kenosha, Wis.

On Triple D, Guy takes a heaping mouthful of the famous Garbage Plate at Franks Diner, a Kenosha institution since 1926. The signature dish starts with three to five eggs mixed with hash browns, peppers and onions; you can then choose to add up to five different meats and five different cheeses for a filling, flavorful feast. In the mood for something a little sweeter? Try the French Toast Cinnamon Rolls or Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes.
Recommended Dish: Chorizo Garbage Plate

Go to: Franks Diner

Kanella Restaurant — Philadelphia

This welcoming eatery serves authentic, unfussy Greek cuisine to Philadelphia's Washington Square neighborhood, garnering rave reviews from loyal locals and traveling food aficionados alike. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Esquire food editor Ryan D'Agostino recommends the Cyprus Breakfast for the ultimate morning meal, calling its crunchy fried egg and lounza ham pure "salty goodness." For a light bite, try the warm semolina cereal with preserved fruits, almonds and honey.
Recommended Dish: Cyprus Breakfast

Go to: Kanella Restaurant

Studio Diner — San Diego

Studio Diner carries breakfast round the clock — yes, it's even available for lunch and dinner. Take it from Guy, who says "everything is top-notch" here. Owner Stu Segall insists on flying in whole belly clams and lobster from Maine. For a real late-night treat, divulge in a deep-fried favorite, the Monte Cristo. But for breakfast in the morning, Guy says there's nothing quite like the Crab Cake Benedict: two blue crab cakes on two English muffins, topped with creamy poached eggs and a classic hollandaise sauce.

Recommended Dish: Crab Cake Benedict

Photo courtesy of Mandy Schaffer

Go to: Studio Diner

Dor-Stop Restaurant — Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh locals know when it's time for breakfast, it's time for Dor-Stop. On Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy swung by this family operation serving hearty favorites like sweet pumpkin hotcakes and crunchy raspberry French toast. For egg lovers, try the one-of-a-kind Jumbot, a mix of eggs, sausage, green bell peppers and "anything you would want," or keep it simple with Bob’s Specialty, a serving of two eggs with German potato pancakes, applesauce or sour cream, and toast.
Recommended Dish: Raspberry French Toast

Go to: Dor-Stop Restaurant

Palace Grill Sandwich Shop — Chicago

A great breakfast is even better with a cozy atmosphere, and that's exactly what you'll find at Palace Grill, an urban diner that’s been serving up comfort food classics since 1938. Passed on from one generation to the next and the next, this Chicago favorite maintains a loyal fan base with its old-school decor and hearty breakfast plates, such as the Denver omelet and hash browns or the skirt steak and eggs. For a quick (and cheap) morning fix, go for the fried eggs and cheese on housemade sesame seed bread. If you like your breakfast sandwiches meaty, go ahead and add ham, bacon, sausage or chicken sausage.
Recommended Dish: Egg Sandwich

Go to: Palace Grill

Big Bad Breakfast — Oxford, Miss.

This homey restaurant is a go-to breakfast destination. Fuel up for the day with hearty options, like sweet potato hash, a chili-stuffed omelet, and a short stack of oatmeal pancakes dressed up with whipped cream and strawberries (and chocolate chips, blueberries, pecans or bananas, if you so desire).
Recommended Dish: Sweet Potato Hash

Go to: Big Bad Breakfast

Maria's Cafe — Minneapolis

You'll want to get breakfast at Maria's when in the Twin Cities, and luckily they serve it all day, so it's not hard to fit it in. Jeff Mauro — and countless locals — recommend the Corn Pancakes (cachapas venezolanas, if you're being authentic), made with corn flour, butter and cut corn, then sprinkled with sharp Cotija cheese. For something sweeter, try Fausto’s Chocolate Chip Pancakes, or satisfy the urge for eggs with Pablo's Omelet, made with white rice, refried beans, grilled onions, cheddar cheese and tomatoes.
Recommended Dish: Corn Pancakes

Go to: Maria's Cafe

The Bagel Store — Brooklyn

If you've been dreaming of New York-style, boiled-then-baked bagels as big as your head, mosey across the Williamsburg Bridge to The Bagel Store for the cheapest, best bagel sandwich ever (at least according to Jeff, who devoured a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel topped with bacon bits on $24 in 24). Every bagel is hand-rolled, and a variety of cream cheeses and tofu spreads are made fresh in-house. Not in New York? Not a problem: The artisanal bagel shop ships nationwide.
Recommended Dish: Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel

Go to: The Bagel Store

Cafe 222 — San Diego

For breakfast-lover Bobby Flay, traditional French toast may be good, but the Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed French Toast at Cafe 222 deserves a spot on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Owner Terryl Gavre created the decadent dish after reading an article about Elvis' famous love of peanut butter, banana and pickle sandwiches, and Bobby calls it "good stuff." The cafe menu is stocked full of breakfast classics like pancakes and eggs, and the Pumpkin Waffle deserves a mention as a local favorite.
Recommended Dish: Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed French Toast

Go to: Cafe 222

La Condesa — Austin

This Austin fixture has built a loyal following with its fresh take on traditional Mexican cuisine. One of the best-sellers is the Huevos Rancheros, a dish that features crispy Yukon potatoes cooked in duck fat, and a tangy paste that Executive Chef Rick Lopez calls his "medulla mix," made from tart tomatoes, smoked bacon and poblano peppers. "We try to make it a big conglomerate dish, almost like a one-pot wonder that Mom used to make," says Lopez.
Recommended Dish: Huevos Condesa

Go to: La Condesa

Clinton St. Baking Co. — New York

The award-winning Blueberry Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter at Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant are so irresistible that Bobby just had to challenge the owners to a throwdown. If you stop by the homey spot for brunch, also try the buttermilk biscuits and tomato jam, hearty omelets and sugar-cured bacon. All baked good are homemade in-house, and early risers who stop by the eatery at 8 a.m. will be rewarded with warm-from-the-oven muffins and scones.
Recommended Dish: Blueberry Pancakes

Go to: Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant

Golden West Café — Baltimore

For a delicious taste of the Southwest on the East Coast, stop by Baltimore's Golden West Cafe for a Breakfast Burrito, Breakfast Quesadilla or Duff Goldman's favorite, the Huevos Montulenos, made with kernel corn cakes, tasty pinto beans and fried banana. In addition to the New Mexican specialties, you'll also find classic pancakes and omelets.
Recommended Dish: Huevos Montulenos

Go to: Golden West Cafe

m. henry — Chicago

A trip to Chicago isn’t complete without a visit to m. henry, a legendary brunch spot churning out decadent creations like Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Be sure to check your guilt at the door: The made-from-scratch rolls are bathed in a sugary egg-custard mixture before being added to a flattop for browning. Neufchatel cream, fresh mango and blueberry bits, and some housemade granola give the dish its finishing touches.
Recommended Dish: Cinnamon Roll French Toast

Go to: m. henry

The Coffee Cup Cafe — Boulder City, Nev.

This roadside diner makes dishes like peanut butter pancakes and huevos rancheros fresh to order under a "world famous" tagline. The eatery is easy to miss, and when Guy stopped by on Triple D, he regretted his earlier drive-bys. After sampling the Pork Chili Verde Omelet, served with a choice of pancakes, hash browns or rice, he declared it to be nothing short of "the bomb."
Recommended Dish: Pork Chili Verde Omelet

Go to: The Coffee Cup Cafe

High Street on Market — Philadelphia

Jon Nodler, head chef at Philadelphia's High Street on Market, fries the Kennebec potatoes used to make this sandwich's hash brown in a deep fryer, twice — first when raw, then again after the potatoes are mashed, flattened and frozen — to form a crispy outer layer and a creamy inner one.
Recommended Dish: Pastrami and Hash

Go to: High Street on Market

Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen — Chapel Hill, N.C.

This drive-thru-only joint has been serving biscuits to Chapel Hill locals and students for more than 40 years. Its signature sandwich, The Bad Grampa, was named for the movie of the same title that was filmed in the area. This breakfast dish features crunchy fried chicken, fluffy scrambled eggs, a slice of cheese and several strips of crisp bacon, all sandwiched between two halves of a fresh-baked biscuit.
Recommended Dish: The Bad Grampa

Go to: Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen

The Kneadery — Ketchum, Idaho

Fuel up for the Sun Valley slopes with a fresh and filling breakfast from this family-friendly Idaho spot, known for big portions packed with equally big flavors. Enjoy classic pancakes, savor the avocado-topped Sun Valley Omelet, or take Rachael's recommendation and devour the Rocky Mountain Benedict — an eggs Benedict with smoked trout that she calls "the perfect way to start the day."
Recommended Dish: Rocky Mountain Benedict

Go to: The Kneadery

Aretha Frankensteins — Chattanooga

Chattanooga may be known for its trains, but Rachael Ray discovered The Waffle of Insane Greatness at Aretha Frankensteins. Breakfast lovers beware: Aretha Frankensteins has scarily good deals on shrimp and grits, omelets, breakfast burritos, and fat stack pancakes with Maine blueberries. Fans of their classic buttermilk pancakes can also order a box of the tasty pancake mix online.
Recommended Dish: Waffle of Insane Greatness

Go to: Aretha Frankensteins

Tia Sophia's — Santa Fe

Giada says Tia Sophia's breakfast burrito makes for "the perfect hearty breakfast." Soft tortillas are stuffed with bacon and hash browns, smothered in melted cheese and served with a poached egg on top. For added kick, order the Christmas version that comes with extra-spicy red and green chiles.
Recommended Dish: Breakfast Burrito

Go to: Tia Sophia's

White Wolf Cafe — Orlando, Fla.

In Orlando, Rachael Ray makes a point to stop at the White Wolf Cafe, where guests enjoy great food and live music surrounded by vintage antiques. Rachael can't get enough of the traditional eggs Benedict, topped off with a creamy dose of hollandaise sauce. If you’re willing to splurge, upgrade to the Crab Cakes Benedict: crab cakes, poached eggs, avocado and hollandaise on an English muffin with a choice of hash browns, home fries or grits.
Recommended Dish: Traditional Benedict

Go to: White Wolf Cafe

Red Arrow Diner — Manchester, N.H.

Since 1922, Red Arrow Diner has been open 24 hours a day (except for the 16 hours at Christmas) and served nearly 500,000 breakfasts a year. On Triple D, Guy took his place in line to sample some of the restaurant's iconic dishes, including the Texas-Style French Toast and handmade Twinkies, known as Dinah Fingers. Savory-breakfast lovers can count on "Grandma's recipe" for Pork Pie and Eggs: a slice of homemade pork pie served with eggs (any style), pan fries, hash browns, beans or grits.
Recommended Dish: Texas-Style French Toast

Go to: Red Arrow Diner

The Egg and I — Las Vegas

Located a quick 10-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip on Sahara Avenue, The Egg and I boasts reasonable prices and friendly service. Wake up hungry? Rachael calls the Key Largo Crepe, made with guacamole, bacon, turkey, tomatoes and cheese, "a remedy for the breakfast blahs." For more hearty and delicious options, look no further than the Eggs Benedict with Blackened Prime Rib or Pesto Scramble with Sliced Chicken, Tomatoes and Feta.
Recommended Dish: Key Largo Crepe

Go to: The Egg and I

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