The Best All Day Breakfast in Toronto
The best all day breakfast in Toronto is a scramble. Making a solid breakfast strikes me as an easy (and fun!) task. It can't be too difficult to make breakfast spectacular, because it's so basic and inherently beautiful: Bread, bacon and eggs! (Or your choice of a vegetarian alternative!) It's so pure and... historical.
Yet, so many places can't properly prepare an egg and seriously skimp on bacon (and don't even get me started on frozen home fries because it's an entirely offensive subject all together). Furthermore, I'm going to need refillable coffee on the double. Here are places that take pride in refilling coffee, preparing an egg and portioning out bacon (or alternatives).
The 12 best all day breakfast restaurants in Toronto. (Or, at least, excellent all day breakfast restaurants)
Photos by Alyssa Bistonath
BOOM Breakfast and Co.
Boom Breakfast is steady as a rock. There are never any surprises and never any disappointments. They have funny names for their breakfasts, like “Three Some” and “Chocolate Monkey French toast” but my favourite is the “2 Egg Breakfast.” It comes cheap with free coffee on weekday mornings, which always makes me feel thankful that I’m sitting in a breakfast (exclusively breakfast) place on a weekday morning. More...
Mitzi's Cafe/Mitzi's on College
I love Mitzi’s for the sole reason that when I last went there for breakfast they put cranberries in my ice water, randomly, for no reason. I also enjoy the option of sourdough toast and sauteed tomatoes, plus no other breakfast place offers bacon or fish cakes (not that I would ever prefer fish cakes to bacon). Plus, no other breakfast place puts kimchee on a breakfast sandwich and calls it “ultimate.” More...
Le Petit Dejeuner
This place is fantastic if only for the startling early-nineties vibe. I mean, holy cow! The Stone Roses, Nirvana, and what we thought might be The Sneaker Pimps! There’s also something about the lovely wait staff that reminds me of 1994, although I can’t exactly put my finger on it. Dim lighting and nothing but booths are also totally comfortable, and breakfast comes with potato rosti instead of home fries, which, you know, is really nice for a change. More...
The Lakeview
Like all those popular bands from 2003, most of their breakfast options are preceded by the word “the” (The Standard, The Massive, The Turbo). They will not charge you extra for peameal bacon, but they will charge you two dollars for half a grapefruit. There is killer music playing, none of it from 2003. More...
Future Bakery
Future is a great place for students, or for former-students who want to get nostalgic from time to time. Something about going there for breakfast makes me feel like I’m living life to the fullest…. It’s the bustling atmosphere, perhaps. It’s always busy, even into the wee hours. Their bacon and eggs are cheap and quick (and well portioned), and rumour has it you can swing a discount if you’re still in school. More...
Lady Marmalade
On the weekends, you have to stand in line for about forty-five minutes. Furthermore, you have to stand in line outside by the window, which means you can watch people eating poached eggs (of which they serve many variations) and this amazing looking yogurt and granola with half a bagel. There are no fried eggs here, but you can get eggs benedict with Brie and avocado, which makes up for just about anything. And oh my, they also offer a “Good Morning Poutine,” which no one should get too excited about because some mornings, without warning, it’s unavailable! More...
Sadie's Diner
I’m not saying it’s right, but I had this notion that vegetarian restaurants are always spic and span. Sadie’s liberated me from that particular prejudice, because the tables were sticky and the bright vinyl booths were ripped up. It’s a greasy diner without meat grease, which I find uniquely charming! Veggie bacon and veggie breakfast sausage make appearances, as does the “tofu scramble.” Coffee is served in GIANT mugs and snappy indie tunes abound. More...
Edward Levesque's Kitchen
One of the best things about this place is that they advertise “an espresso and a puppy” for unattended children, and that’s funny, right? Despite often-mixed reviews on the food and/or service, folks continue to line up out the door for E. Levesque’s weekend brunch of French toast, waffles and latkes and all day breakfasts throughout the week (when open). More...
Easy Breakfast
There are posters of Jack Nicholson on the walls and tons of rough looking, leather-clad customers - Everything I ever wanted in a breakfast place. Also, I really appreciate the home fries in this establishment. They actually look like they are made in a heavy skillet over an open fire from last night’s leftover potatoes, satisfying the very definition of “home fries.” Serious home fries are more rare than you might imagine, but I guess serious business follows Nicholson wherever he goes. More...
The Prague
This place is glorious, a real “farm fresh” feeling to it all around. The service is adorable, even in the midst of the weekend breakfast rush. And I don’t know what is up with those eggs but they’re fantastic looking! Crepes and pancakes (though by another name, the Czech one) are devoured in a flash and straight-up bacon and eggs are really well priced given the size and quality of the plate that will be placed before you. More...
Karine's
It’s located in the Village by the Grange food court, which means it’s really close to OCAD and many of the customers are presumably students of that institution. They probably appreciate the artsy menu done in wacky handwriting and the colourful (pink!) decor. They also appear to appreciate the cheap (in price, not in quality) all-day breakfast that come in take-away containers, because everyone orders with an excited grin. There are plenty of vegan options here (they make a popular soy smoothie, for example) but they want you to know that they do serve bacon. More...
Gayley's Cafe
This quiet, sunny, beer-serving breakfast place is apparently the place to go when you’re hung over and want to wait in line for an hour, but on a weekday morning it’s perfectly calm. Straight-up bacon and eggs is reasonably priced and the service is mighty appeasing! Our waiter answered all my requests with a “sure thing” and a prompt delivery. More...
Comments (67)
LOVE the all-day breakfasts! Thanks for this post! Great suggestions...here's another - a personal favourite: Maggie's All-Day Breakfast, 400 College Street (College and Bathurst). Eggspectations has great all-day breakfasts, but less of the bistro, diner feel.
i was very impressed with the all-day at The Windmill at Bay & St. Joseph (1 block North of Wellesley). Slightly non-traditional with surprising flavours. The home fries were spiced wonderfully and unexpectedly, and the slice of turkey was killer.
They're all really the same when it comes to breakfast anyways, Which I now have a hankering for. Out of these I'd have to say boom takes the cake, that place is hella busy those mornings that i do want to go for breakfast..but boy is it ever clean. I miss the days i used to live up on St.Clair if only for very few things; Boom being one of them. If it's for the people I'd have to say Sadie's/ a couple of my friends work there and they are amazing people.
For anyone brave enough to venture east of the DVP, the Wexford at Lawrence and Warden has been serving great all-day breakfast for over 50 years. It has a classic diner feel, complete with a cast of regulars and servers with personality.
And the french toast with butter and syrup is comfort food at it's best.
My favorite breakfast joint is UFO Restaurant / Three Star convenience at Niagara and Adelaide.
It's not much to look at being in a convenience store and all, but the service is wonderful, the staff is friendly, the food is cheap, and there is always, ALWAYS, a place to sit. It is a greasy spoon and far far away from being deemed anything near classy.
Plus, you can grocery shop while you eat (at some tables).
I've never had breakfast there but I have a thing for UFO's spaghetti and meatballs, and their homemade burgers are HUGE.
Mill Street Brewpub in the Distillery District makes a stand-up breakfast, and YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN A LINE FOR IT!
Almost as good as that: getting a 4-glass beer sampling platter, because that's the only thing better than coffee with eggs.
Mill Street Brewpub has horrible service. Aspiring actors, all of 'em. Aspire for a long time, boys! Huge attitude, zero service.
I have had nothing but positive experiences down at Mill Street.
I quite enjoy the Tulip's all day breakfast....and cheap.
I have had nothing but positive experiences down at Mill Street.
I quite enjoy the Tulip's all day breakfast....and cheap.
blogto, you have the worst "best of toronto" lists for food.
boom is absolutely horrible and should never been seen on any list for best of breakfast/brunch.
Sunset Grill in the Beaches is fantastic for all day breakfast. Probably disqualified for being a 'chain' though.
The whole chain thing can get hazy at times. You'll often find chains of 3 or 4 or more on these lists, but larger chains that are more centralized in the GTA are left out. (Hy's Steakhouse for example is based out of Calgary and only has a single Toronto location, but still snagged #4 on the steakhouse list)
Sunset is interesting in that while the food remains fairly generic across the chain, the original Beaches location stands out among the pack in terms of quality. It's essentially a separate entity, as often happens with the original store in small chains.
I has such a terrible breakfast (Eggs Benny) at the Boom at Yonge/Eg that I won't be trying this on St. Clair W. Bad service, bad coffee (i know, it's supposed to be Reunion Island), bad breakfast potatoes, overcooked eggs, plus it took all kinds of time to serve me on a Tuesday morning.
I don't mean to be harsh, but this is a really poorly written article. What is so pure, inherently beautiful or historical about all-day breakfasts?
I would like to see a list of the best places that sell breakfast that don't happen to devote their entire all day menu to it.
Best all day breakfast != best breakfast
I thought these lists come from readers voting on places, not BlogTO itself.
I agree - Vesta is pretty great. And I know it's a chain, but I LOVE Cora's!
Laura, Maggie of Maggie's on College owns Karine's and works there (Karine, her daughter, too). Check it out if you haven't!
As someone who has had numerous breakfasts at all of these locations but one, I am having a difficult time comprehending why the post-change Lakeview -- a place I visit only when I'm in the mood for abuse and terrible potatoes which, admittedly, is almost weekly -- is even on this list. Is it the name recognition? The history? The funky Modest Mouse-esque sign? ...the abuse and bad potatoes?
Emily? Help.
Definitely love Maggies! It is better on a weekday though, weekends are extremely crowded. It's a cramped space and can get very hot. The food is fantastic, and there are at least 20 breakfast options.
If this list is decided readers voting on places, not BlogTO itself, are the IP's of those voting unique?
What I am trying to say, what is keeping someone say the same people that are shamelessly plugging their restaurant in every review of another restaurant that serves something remotely like their menu, from voting more than once for their restaurant??
I have noticed certain establishments in particular seem to get plugged on this site almost everyday (one, now two but with a connection).
I will take all further reviews with a grain of salt. If these reviews are just back scratching for a free meal than I may as well listen to what that Marty guy has to say.
As with all criticism, I expect this to be deleted. If only I knew someone at blgoto.
I'm sorry, but BOOM sucks. Everything there tastes processed. I always feel like I'm at an overpriced golden griddle.
I was with you until you mentioned Futures. Any restaurant that can't do scrambled eggs properly is off my list. Plus, their homefries are consistently disappointing.
I still miss The Bagel.
Hey guys - yes, this list is derived from nominations and voting from all of you. Like any list, there are bound to be disagreements. Just for the record, to qualify for this list the restaurant needed to serve breakfast the entire time it was open. And it needed to serve breakfast during meals where breakfast is not traditionally eaten (ie. lunch, dinner, 3am etc.)
For those of you who think this is the "worst list", please do us all a favour and suggest places you feel should have been included on the list.
Tim, why doesn't BlogTo post a disclaimer with the Best Of lists? It's never made clear that the top spots are nominated by readers until you inevitably have to explain that in the comments - and this happens with practically every single list. You might get fewer "worst list ever" comments if you tried it.
I think this is a great idea. I do wonder however how many people would just miss the disclaimer lol
Over Easy at Yonge / Wellington is a hiddent treasure for all day breakfasts...as long as you don't mind eating next to Bay Street types.
Michelle do you mean Maggies on charles street east of yonge near wellesley? I went there once and the owner was a real prick yelling/criticizing at his staff one young lady in particular who just happened to be a minority, possibly an immigrant
I did bring it to his attention because stuff like this disturbs me, when it came time to pay my bill I expressed my feelings in what I consider a civil manner and you know what he did? instead of giving my change back he dropped it angrily in the tip jar
I was flabbergasted and will never go there again and for the record I am an excellent tipper but don't appreciate it being grabbed from me
C'mon, the list is pretty good overall.. but, Mitzi's on Sorauren should have taken it.. Auntie's and Uncles second.. and yeah.. Mars should have made the list.
A couple of points to mention. First, Edward Levesque's is a shithole. The service is absurd, the attitude plentiful and the food mediocre (I can already hear the howls from Leslievillians who will wait in line there Sunday morning for food that can be made better at home, without the surly staff attitude). Second, where is The Tulip? As far as lists go, this one is passble, but just barely.
Sneaky Dee's probably has the best value breakfast...$3.25 for a huge plate of food (it takes a lot of effort for me to finish)...although they only serve it on weekdays from like 11-4..
BLOOR-JANE RESTAURANT
If you're a west-ender, this is widely-known to be the taj mahal of all-day breakfasts.
I reco the breakfast special with: Scrambled / Sausage / [Milk] Shake. It also includes amazing homefries, 2 toasts with plenty of butter (and jam, if you're into that kind of thing), and unlimited coffee.
Hardcore diner since the 70s.
Future Bakery? A place with "breakfast" in the title? Gimme a break. You may as well list "Denny's"....
SirRevellerrrrrrrrrrr
Frig FORGOT about the Bloor-Jane Restaurant
Used to go there many years ago. Friend lived near there:)
Great place. And wonder, are they still using the SAME old Cash Register a la punch punch?........This place should soooo be on the list for sure!
Moi- hahaha yeah that thing is still in action. The entire place hasnt changed since the early 80s, if ever..
Creme de la Creme's pancakes are crazy good.
I've never actually been there, but I hear Bonjour Brioche is pretty good. Don't know if it's all day breakfast though...
Isabella .
I think Michelle is referring to the Maggie on College, which IMHO used that have stella breakfasts until ownership changed. I recently went to Karine's and it's just like the old Maggies (and for good reason).
I'm not sure who owns the resto on Charles St.
Where is AUntie/Unlces, Tulip, Daybreak, Bonjour Brioche or lady marmalade on Queen East.
Futures is just meh.
BOOM on College is GREAT! For those with bottomless bellies, try the French Toast after a meal - it's the best French Toast I've ever had. Apparently the secret ingredient is orange juice. Shhh...
they're impermanent staff (hosts, bus boys, cooks) at Steve's are treated like shit and the owner is a mess. I had a few friends that worked there and the cooks smoke in the kitchen while making your food.
There is this place on Lakeshore and Mimico called the Waffle Works, every time I've been there it's been almost empty. Their menu is awesome, and they have the most unique array of southern waffles.
sorry but the reader poll was dead wrong this time. I am a breakfast fanatic and having gone to all of the places you listed and more I just want to say, Lakeview is overpriced and under delivers. Sadie's is just plain awful, and easy is crowded and full of 'tude. What about the REAL classic all day diners? The Senator on victoria south of dundas east and The Patrician on king just west of sherbourne. Both of these are often imitated but never duplicated. They also make a great replacement for The Stem... R.I.P.
Whoever never "got the appeal" of all-day breakfast obviously has never had the pleasure of working evening or night shift where your day sometimes only starts in the late afternoon.
Lucky 9-to-5er, wanna trade?
I think Sadie's as an experience depends on your expectation (many don't realize they are walking into a veggie restaurant). I find it consistently offers really good food, great/courteous staff and a great vibe as does Easy. The only attitudes I find at either place lie with the patrons and I am there to enjoy the company that walked in with me and let others do the same. I also think that By the Way is pretty good. Much like "bacon on" a hearty RIP for The Stem.......sorely missed.
Eggspegtation Younge Street. Yes its a Montreal hot spot chain, but we got on here two. Eggspegtation Younge Street.
Everyone in Toronto knows, or should know, that the best all-day brekkie in Toronto is served up at the Bloor-Jane Restaurant. Usually lined up on weekends, but the line moves fast. Specializing in feeding you well, and fast. In, eat, leave. The last of Toronto's great greasy spoons.
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