Most Important Meal of the Day
Chain restaurants are a common sight across the United States, and breakfast is no exception. Whether you're a fan of the classics, like pancakes and eggs, or something a little more Instagram-worthy, there are plenty of options to choose from. While some chains fall flat, others are adored for their innovative take on breakfast. With that in mind, here are the 10 worst and best contenders in the US.
1. Denny’s
Denny's is an American chain restaurant with a famous breakfast. However, the pancakes, for example, are bland, and the sausage links are tiny. The bacon is limp and greasy. Even other dishes, such as waffles, toast, and hash browns, are not very interesting.
2. Original Pancake House
The Original Pancake House is a popular pancake house chain in the United States, with locations in at least 25 different states. The portions are generous, and the prices aren't bad. The pancakes, however, are almost always a letdown. The syrupy goo just makes it all taste even more floury.
3. Baker’s Square
Baker's Square is an American breakfast chain that serves pies. However, Baker's Square has been quietly disappearing. As of 2022, the restaurant has a total of only nine locations, all in five different Midwestern states.
4. Marie Callender’s
Marie Callender's is known for its pies, which are so prevalent in supermarket freezer aisles that few customers ever eat at the restaurants. The diminished chain is now only found in the western United States, where the breakfast menu of boring pancakes and eggs does have a few modest twists, such as banana cream pancakes or the Big Country Smasher Skillet.
5. Tudor’s Biscuit World
Tudor's Biscuit World is a regional breakfast restaurant known for its big, fluffy biscuits, which can be found in West Virginia and Ohio. There are many varieties of biscuits offered, with the most popular being the Tootie and the Peppi. The catch is that you have to eat it quickly, or else the gravy begins to congeal and just isn’t appetizing.
6. Biscuitville
Biscuitville is a regional breakfast chain with restaurants primarily in North Carolina and Virginia. Diners can try Biscuitville's classic biscuits and gravy or a savory country ham biscuit. It’s a solid option, but just not as great as other chains.
7. Le Peep
Le Peep is a family-style breakfast spot with an all-day menu chock full of both sweet and savory items. There’s plenty to choose from, including harvest hashes and eggs topped with veggies. However, the food just lacks that wow moment, and the Mexican twists don’t feel authentic.
8. Village Inn
Village Inn is a chain that has breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner. They have a range of breakfast entrees, including some Mexican-inspired choices. The food is all pretty good, but it's nothing that stands out, so you're eating there for the convenience.
Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger on Unsplash
9. First Watch
Offering breakfast and closing early in the day, First Watch has always been a chain dedicated to morning meals only since its first location in 1983. Most of the items on the menu are pretty standard. It’s another place that is just average and pales in comparison to some of the breakfast greats.
10. IHOP
IHOP is where you go when you want to have a safe, predictable, and inexpensive breakfast. The menu is large, and the pancakes are consistent. The catch is it won’t offer you the most memorable or tasty meal, providing pretty standard and sometimes boring breakfasts.
Now that we have talked about some of the worst breakfast options, here are 10 of the best.
1. Waffle House
It's not even close. Waffle House is a no-brainer, all-around American icon. The 24-hour, always-open chain's justifiable status as an epitome of 3 a.m. comfort food is more than enough to make it the Breakfast Champ. But Waffle House is so much more than pancakes and eggs. From hash browns to the All-Star Special, you can have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any other meal at Waffle House.
2. Cracker Barrel
The United States chain Cracker Barrel is a homey place to enjoy a hearty meal at any time of day and is a popular destination with travelers and fans. Its breakfast menu is limited, but eggs-in-the-basket and cheesy hashbrown casserole always taste great. Momma’s Pancake Breakfast with fried apples, turkey sausage, and eggs is a classic for good reason.
JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA on Wikimedia
3. Perkins
Perkins is a consistent, no-frills, high-quality breakfast restaurant. Pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast, and crepes are all above average, though portions are somewhat small. Blueberry pancakes and made-from-scratch Belgian waffles are a winner.
4. Snooze
Snooze is a breakfast restaurant chain that is known for putting a creative, hipster spin on traditional breakfast foods, such as its Sweet Potato Bacon Smash Up with avocado, hemp seeds, and sriracha maple syrup topped with a poached egg. As is fitting given its name, the restaurant is primarily a daytime establishment that serves interesting twists on traditional breakfast fare to early birds.
Seriously Low Carb on Unsplash
5. The Flying Biscuit Café
The Flying Biscuit Café makes Southern comfort food hip and welcoming for breakfast. Try shrimp and grits or a Southern-style Benedict with pimento cheese on top. Find vegan and vegetarian options like Beyond Biscuits and Gravy to fit your diet.
6. Broken Yolk Café
With now over 40 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona, The Broken Yolk Café is famous for serving delicious and innovative brunch food in monster-sized portions. Go the tropical route and try the Tiki Toast, dive down South with the Cracklin' Ben, or try something Southwest-inspired like the Border Benedict.
7. Honey Berry Café
A recent addition to the breakfast chain scene, Honey Berry Café's first location opened in 2019. With 13 restaurants located primarily in the Midwest, but also in Texas and Colorado, the café is known for its large portions and quality ingredients. Menu items range from gluten-free and vegan to heart-healthy options.
João Marcelo Martins on Unsplash
8. La Madeleine
La Madeleine is known for its French pastries, so it's a good spot to grab a buttery croissant. If you're looking for something heartier, La Madeleine offers all-day breakfasts and brunch menus. And if you're a wine o'clock kind of person, you can even order a mimosa for under $5.
9. Egg Harbor Café
If you're in the mood for a hipster foodie breakfast with all-natural, organic, responsibly sourced ingredients, look no further than Egg Harbor Café. The menu is very diverse, including avocado toast, shakshuka, eggs Benedict, and quinoa berry bowls, but don't sleep on the classic breakfast options.
10. Hash House A Go Go
Hash House A Go Go is a contemporary breakfast chain with a whimsical approach to farm food. The menu includes over-the-top dishes like gigantic pancakes, fried chicken eggs Benedict, and towering chicken-and-waffle concoctions. With restaurants in the West, South, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic, Hash House A Go Go offers inventive food with hipster decor.
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