Breakfast Chains You Are About To See Everywhere

We all know the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and lately, restaurant-goers are taking that attitude to heart. Daytime dining is in high demand as many people have started going out for breakfast and brunch with friends, family, and dates instead of a standard dinner. While this may just seem like a passing trend, the business of breakfast shows no signs of slowing down. 

For a lot of consumers, it's a practical option amidst a dwindling economy and inflation. "Going out during the day happened during the last recession when people didn't have money to afford to go out to dinner," restaurant owner Jessica Koslow told Eater. On top of that, more people are working remotely or in freelance gigs, creating flexible schedules that make it easy to go to the restaurant during the day.

Restaurant owners have noticed the growing love for breakfast, and many have capitalized on it with new locations, which typically close their doors before the evening. The breakfast boom doesn't seem to be going anywhere but up, so you'll likely be seeing more of these spots in your area. We've put together a list of the top breakfast chains to look out for and visit yourself.

Hash Kitchen is an Arizona-based restaurant that has infused its breakfast experience with an "Instagrammable" party vibe thanks to its extensive cocktail menu, DJ stand, and decor. Despite cornering that market and developing a strong following in Arizona, the breakfast chain was slow to expand, with five locations in 2021. Chef Joey Maggiore, his wife Cristina, and partner Flora Tersigni consider the brunch spot their baby, which has made them reluctant to take any franchising deals that require giving up their stake in the company (via FSR Magazine).

Fortunately, the Savory Fund, a restaurant growth investment fund, saw the potential in Hash Kitchen's niche and was eager to invest in the business. Since partnering with Hash Kitchen, it hopes to grow the brand in Arizona and spread it to other states. "We believe that Hash Kitchen was the cool kid on the block as far as a.m. eatery," Andrew Smith, managing partner of the Savory Fund, said. "But the a.m. eatery category too, we believe that there's just a lot of white space. I look at even Utah and Nevada and Arizona [...] Then you look in states, even like in Texas, and there's just not enough to serve the amount of population that's in those communities." Partnering with Hash Kitchen, the Savory Fund hopes to fill some of the void in the breakfast market.

Huckleberry's Breakfast and Lunch is a unique daytime chain open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The chain has branded itself as "Southern cookin' with a California twist!" which sums it up pretty well. Huckleberry's is the perfect place to gorge yourself on Southern favorites like chicken and waffles, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, a breakfast scramble complete with biscuits and gravy, and much more. On top of that, the restaurant decor has a rustic feel, reminiscent of dining in the bayou.

The first Huckleberry location opened in 2008 in California's Bay Area, but it has since expanded throughout the state and into the Southern USA. In 2022, the restaurant announced signing a multi-unit franchising deal in Fort Worth, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee. Franchisee Josh Calvert spoke to Global Franchise about bringing Huckleberry's to Texas. "I traveled to California and visited Huckleberry's Breakfast & Lunch [...] and knew right away I wanted to bring the excitement of this brand to Texas. The 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. operating hours, truly amazing food, and the southern hospitality just made me feel at home," Calvert said. Huckleberry's has stuck to its original vision of a restaurant filled with Southern cooking and charm at all of its new locations, setting itself apart from other places in the growing breakfast market.

The Toasted Yolk is another daytime dining hub that has limited its hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. That time frame is not only perfect for the breakfast and lunch crowd but it's also been a draw for franchisees looking for work-life balance. According to QSR Magazine, The Toasted Yolk has had a lot of franchising inquiries since opening its doors in 2012, in large part because of the favorable working schedule.

The restaurant is open 56 hours a week, so employees and owners can finish work and be home with their families in time for dinner. Bret Baumgartner, who owns two locations in the Beaumont, Texas, area said, "When I was with (a previous restaurant brand), I was working 70–80 hours a week. That can take a toll on you as far as family and personal time goes. Don't get me wrong, I still have to put in the hours, but now I'm home well before dark."

Along with keeping its employees happy, the breakfast restaurant seems to have cracked the code on appealing to its customer base. The CEO, Chris Milton said the menu is designed with its primarily suburban customer base in mind, including both decadent and healthier options to choose from. On top of that, its extensive bar menu draws in guests and increases the amount of money spent per customer, resulting in the company's large growth.

Grumpy's Restaurant is a favorite in Jacksonville, Florida, where it's been voted the #1 Best Restaurant by Bold City from 2018 through 2022. Although many restaurants experienced setbacks in 2021, Grumpy's somehow managed to thrive throughout the pandemic, earning itself several more recognitions and awards. Despite its name, Grumpy's focuses on maintaining a friendly, diner-style environment that's perfect for families and keeps its customer base coming back.

Speaking to FSR Magazine about the company's continued success, Daniel DeLeon, President and CEO, had his team and staff to thank. "Our whole team works extremely hard to make Grumpy's a local favorite," DeLeon said. "We are grateful to have been recognized by so many and it couldn't have been possible without the Grumpy's Restaurant family and our loyal customers. We work hard every day to live up to our motto, 'No One Leaves Grumpy!'" Thanks to those efforts, the local favorite is expanding throughout Florida, with five current locations and more on the way.

Another Broken Egg Cafe is a charming breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot offering Southern-inspired dishes, breakfast favorites, cocktails, spiked cold brew, and a full bar. The restaurant opened in 1996 and has experienced mostly consistent growth since, including being one of the fastest-growing daytime franchises in 2022. Another Broken Egg Cafe ended the year with 80 locations across 15 states and many more on the way. In July 2021, a survey conducted by Franchise Business Review named the cafe one of the 30 Top Food Franchises to Own.

Along with its expansion, Another Broken Egg Cafe continues to innovate to create the best dining experience possible. Jeff Sturgis, Chief Development Officer, told Nation's Restaurant News, "We've made some significant changes over the last few years to ensure we are the leading full-service 'NextGen Casual' brunch concept. We've updated our restaurant design to better serve off-premise without detracting from the onsite dining experience." You'll be seeing this restaurant everywhere in the coming years.

Big Bad Breakfast (BBB) first opened its doors in 2008 with award-winning chef John Currence as the founder. BBB developed a loyal customer following, opening stores across Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. But, like the entire restaurant industry, it experienced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, CEO Travis Grappo told FSR Magazine that BBB is bouncing back to pre-pandemic numbers, partially due to its expansion of delivery and third-party takeout services.

Since recovering from Covid, the brand is ready to expand further, but Grappo is focused on ensuring the growth is sustainable. "We're very bullish on the national market," Grappo said. "We have a great following there [Nashville] and we are looking at other markets in the Southeast. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's very, very important to earn the right to grow. [...] We just have to make sure that our execution is 100 percent before we start growing all over the United States." Grappo went on to praise the competition, demonstrating the company's collaborative ways.