The 15 Absolute Best Breakfast Restaurants In America

Brunch is an American culinary tradition slathered in hollandaise and sparkling with a splash of OJ — it's breakfast with the "joie de vivre" of the weekend. If our morning meals are intended to satiate the fasting of an 8-hour sleep, then brunch is the breakfast of a 40-hour workweek. 

According to Smithsonian Magazine, Americans have been "brunching" since the 1930s, when late morning meals became a trendy social outlet championed by women entering the workforce after World War II. These new laborers found themselves in need of reprieve from the work week and household duties. Restaurants soon caught wind of the influx of hungry wage workers and began opening their doors on Sundays to serve up traditional breakfast staples while creating new favorites. In this way, America's breakfast dishes became regionally diversified — hearty meals that were completely exclusive from their noon and evening counterparts.

Current culinary trends in breakfast incorporate healthy elements while locally sourcing ingredients and creating new twists on old favorites. With a mainstay of millennial brunchers, there's plenty of room for creativity and the brunch industry is thriving on both authenticity and originality. While some of America's best breakfast restaurants are historic institutions that gather lines daily, other places are focusing on specific breakfast dishes and doing them really, really well.

So, if you're in the mood for something sweet or something savory — or perhaps even something covered in gravy — keep reading for the absolute best breakfast restaurants in America.

Polly's Pancake Parlor is all about hot takes on hotcakes — and America approves. Winner of 2006's James Beard Award in the American Classics category, Polly's is authentic New Hampshire and has been serving local Sugar Hill Hampshirites for 80 years. The difference between an ordinary flapjack and Polly's fluffy pancakes lies in the ingredients, which are carefully sourced. The restaurant states that it only uses organically grown buckwheat, whole wheat, and cornmeal, which they grind in-house. By processing their own flour, Polly's unique batter creates a pancake like no other. Diners can choose their own house-made batter and add-ins to create a variety of pancakes and waffles, all of which are served with New Hampshire maple syrup.

As if the pancakes aren't enough, the restaurant sits cliffside with a gorgeous mountain view so diners can savor the magnificent rustic overlook with some of the best griddle cakes in America. Nothing tastes better with a pat of butter.

New Yorkers know the start of a day actually begins at your local Jewish deli — and if your thing is smoked fish and a shmear on a perfectly chewy bagel, you're headed to Russ & Daughters.

According to the restaurant's history, in 2009, Russ & Daughters entered its fourth generation on ownership, just after its 100^th year of business. Not only are they on the National Register of Historic Places, but they've also been featured in the documentary "The Sturgeon Queens," which has aired globally with great critical reception.

Set in a no-fuss, over-the-counter space with a soda fountain bar and open kitchen, Russ & Daughters are absolute experts at the art of cured, smoked, and pickled fish. Paired with their bakery bagels, bialys, shissel rye bread, pumpernickel, challah, babka, black & white cookies, and knishes from century-old recipes, Russ & Daughters is a "forshpayz" worth waiting in line for.

Nothing says, "Good morning, New York!" quite like a fresh donut in the Big Apple. Capital of the world (at least in the minds of New Yorkers) in fried wheels that are glazed in sugary flavors -– New York knows dough. So, it's no wonder the best donuts in America have arisen from where the competition is the fiercest.

Dough Donuts has taken the cake on what constitutes a glorious breakfast pastry, according to Grub Street, Business Insider, Food & Wine, and other donut-obsessed outlets have rated these wheels as #1 in America. Made in small batches, multiple times a day for peak freshness, these brioche-style donuts feature both unique and traditional flavors. Try their cinnamon and sugar or glazed for a nostalgic complement to coffee or branch out and explore their popular hibiscus or Nutella donuts. Dough Donuts has even expanded across New York to seven locations so no matter where you end up in the city, you can get your hot donut fix.

When Eggslut premiered as a food truck in 2011, it quickly became a foodie favorite, receiving accolades from culinary critics around the states. If you haven't been, you might be asking yourself, "What makes an egg so, uh, promiscuous?" One bite and you'll know.

Eggslut specializes in the egg sandwich, and these steamy buns don't hold back. With a simplistic menu of comfort foods, the art of the egg is highlighted betwixt an innovative assortment of unpretentious, quality ingredients. Served on a warm brioche bun, these extra fluffy eggs will satisfy even the most discerning of breakfast appetites. Try the traditional Bacon, Egg & Cheese with chipotle ketchup for a little kick on an old classic.

Eggslut has gotten around since its inception over a decade ago. Currently, the truck has expanded into brick and mortar, hosting four locations in California and successful international franchises in Singapore, Korea, Japan, Kuwait, and the United Kingdom. Eggslut is all about sharing the love of eggs and, let's face it, there is nothing like a little love in the morning.

Earning a spot as "Restaurant of the Year" by Willamette Week and one of "America's Top Restaurant Bargains" by Food and Wine Magazine, Mother's Bistro has quickly spread the love of breakfast around the city. And for many locals in Portland, Oregon, Mother's is a taste of home, sweet home.

At first entrance, patrons will notice the comfortable, homey décor — a far cry from the trendy sterile white tile of many modern eateries. Mother's loves deep velvets, baroque floral prints, soft lighting, and lots and lots of chandeliers. Like dining in your great auntie's living room, Mother's is all about warmth and welcome. The décor at Mother's is only a complement to the savory, slow-roasted meals they specialize in. Try their slow-cooked oatmeal with brown sugar and cream, crunchy cornflake-dipped Challah French toast, or corned beef hash for a breakfast that hugs your belly. Now, wash it down with a "Breakfast Libation" and you'll feel like a child all over again.

If you haven't grabbed a hot coffee and powdery beignet from Café Du Monde after a long night on Bourbon Street, then it's possible you've missed out on one of New Orleans' most universal experiences. Here, around 11 a.m., the ground is covered in powdered sugar, so thick it's like a Christmas miracle. It's no miracle, however, why Café Du Monde has endured since 1862, and the little coffee stand serves up one of the finest breakfasts in the city.

A staple of simplicity, Café Du Monde keeps a tight menu. Order a dark roasted chicory coffee black or "Au Lait," meaning "with milk," fresh-squeezed orange juice, or beignets – it's that easy in the Big Easy.

The beignets come out on top, these square French-style doughnuts are covered in powdered sugar and explode in little puffs with each bite. After dusting this historical landmark in sweet residue, patrons can browse around the French Market, sipping coffee and enjoying the beauty of the city. Café Du Monde is more than one of America's best breakfasts, it's an experience.

There is no better way to spend a bleary-eyed morning in an old roadside motel than at the Loveless Cafe. At this hotel-turned-restaurant, you won't be filled with regret — just some of the best chicken and biscuits in Tennessee.

For over 65 years, the Loveless Cafe has specialized in scratch-made Southern cuisine in Nashville, Tennessee. Now a historic landmark, the cafe features an iconic neon sign complete with a "no vacancy" switch light and hotel rooms filled with quaint local shops to browse after receiving a belly full of biscuits.

Apparently, the food at Loveless was good enough to close 14 rooms in order to focus on meeting the biscuit demand, and it still rings true. Southern Living named the Loveless Cafe one of the "Five Must-See Sights in Nashville," in addition to "Favorite Southern Dives" and the "South's Best Breakfast Spots.". USA Today dubbed it one of the "10 Great Places to Get a Southern-style Biscuit." The biscuit offerings range from Country Ham, Chicken, Pulled Pork Barbeque, and Pimento Cheese N'Fried Green Tomato for an extra Southern twist on this Southern breakfast essential.

Can't get enough buttery, flakey dough in your morning? Opt for the Biscuit Sampler for a smorgasbord of golden-brown love (less).