The Most Popular Breakfast Restaurant in Every State (Lobster Omelet at #19?)

Start your day right with a culinary road trip through the best breakfast joints in the U.S.

senior couple eating breakfast at restaurant
Updated May 28, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Breakfast is a delicious way to start your day, especially if you’re eating at the best breakfast spot in your state.

So grab your best cash back credit card and check out these options to see if your favorite places for eggs, bacon, coffee, and more made the list.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive travel discounts and trip-planning resources

Over 50 and love traveling? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member, you could be missing out on huge travel perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on hotels and resorts, airfare, cruises, car rentals, and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

An AARP membership not only unlocks discounts that could save you hundreds on your next trip, but you’ll also have access to deals on vacation packages, guided tours, and exclusive content to help plan your next getaway.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (do not skip this step!). Doing so will allow you to take up to 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Alabama: The Historic Waysider (Tuscaloosa)

LoloStock/Adobe man having butter toast in breakfast

Fans of the University of Alabama are probably familiar with The Historic Waysider, with its Crimson Tide-themed exterior and delicious breakfast food inside.

Alaska: Snow City Cafe (Anchorage)

AlphonseLeong.Photos/Adobe egg benedict with hash brown

It doesn’t have to be snowy to enjoy breakfast at the Snow City Café in Anchorage. It’s perfect for eggs benedict fans, with the restaurant serving multiple versions of the breakfast staple.

Arizona: Matt's Big Breakfast (Phoenix)

Rawpixel.com/Adobe happy couple having breakfast at restaurant

Check out one of six locations for Matt’s Big Breakfast in Phoenix for typical breakfast and the restaurant’s Salami Scramble or Chop and Chick, which features eggs and a pork chop.

Earn a $250 travel bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee and you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can earn additional points just by using this card for your everyday purchases — unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. The 25,000 bonus points can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases.

If you want to travel and dine out more, the Travel Rewards card can help you get where you want to go.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Arkansas: The Root Cafe (Little Rock)

Peter Kim/Adobe man holding bacon piece in hand

Find your breakfast roots at The Root Cafe in Little Rock, which boasts farm-to-table fare using locally sourced products for a scrumptious breakfast.

California: Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles (various locations)

pamela_d_mcadams/Adobe plate of chicken over waffles

It may sound like a weird combination, but the sweet and salty mix of Belgian waffles and fried chicken is a favorite of Los Angelenos looking for a good breakfast.

You can find the tasty breakfast at one of seven Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles locations in the Los Angeles area.

Colorado: Sassafras (Denver)

Ezume Images/Adobe mac n cheese bowl with fork

Check out the breakfast mac and cheese with bacon and sausage at Sassafras in Denver.

The restaurant is located in a historic Victorian home in the Highlands neighborhood in the Mile High City.

Connecticut: Cosmic Omelet (Manchester)

Guys Who Shoot/Adobe chef cooking omelette in frying pan

After you have breakfast at the Cosmic Omelet, follow its yellow brick road to the restaurant’s art gallery or try your hand at some arcade games.

Delaware: Angelo's Luncheonette (Wilmington)

Mat Hayward/Adobe toast with fried eggs and bacon

Head to Angelo's Luncheonette if you’re in Wilmington and want a good breakfast. The restaurant has been serving up good traditional food for its fans for more than 50 years.

Florida: Red Rooster Cafe (Destin)

uckyo/Adobe shrimp and grits with green garnishing

Look out for the colorful and eclectic interior of the Red Rooster Cafe when you’re in Destin.

You can eat typical eggs and omelets or take advantage of Destin’s location on the Florida Gulf Coast and try its seafood omelet or shrimp and grits special.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Georgia: The Sawmill Place (Blairsville)

flowertiare/Adobe woman drinking juice at breakfast table

The Sawmill Place, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia, is the perfect spot to get a good breakfast, with locally sourced produce and biscuits and gravy made from scratch.

Hawaii: Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen (Kailua)

Jennifer/Adobe plate of french toasts with bacon

Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen in Kailua on the island of Oahu serves up pancakes, waffles, and French toast with its signature macadamia nut sauce.

Idaho: The Griddle (various locations)

gorov/Adobe boy eating chocolate pancake with banana

You can choose from one of four locations in Idaho to take in some tasty breakfast.

The restaurant includes typical breakfast plates as well as crepes that are stuffed with raspberries, peaches, or pecans with a bacon caramel sauce.

Illinois: Lou Mitchell's (Chicago)

fudio/Adobe A breakfast plate

Lou Mitchell’s has been serving up breakfast to Chicagoans for a century, including travelers who were starting out on historic Route 66 from Jackson Boulevard in the city.

Indiana: Milktooth (Indianapolis)

Inna/Adobe friends holding cappuccino cups at cafe

Milktooth has something for everyone for breakfast, including brunch entrees like sourdough waffles and small plate specials like latkes and beignets that include peanut butter mousse and raspberry-grape jam.

Iowa: Waveland Cafe (Des Moines)

Brent Hofacker/Adobe homemade egg and bacon breakfast skillet

Waveland Cafe gives off a small-town feel in the biggest city in Iowa with breakfast skillets or Everything Hash Browns with ham, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and more.

Kansas: Egg Crate Cafe (Wichita)

Brent Hofacker/Adobe homemade cinnamon roll on plate

Head to Wichita, where you’ll find the Egg Crate Cafe. The cafe includes waffles and eggs, but you’ll want to check out its from-scratch cinnamon rolls as a delectable breakfast option.

Kentucky: Gold Rush Cafe (Paducah)

Syda Productions/Adobe happy friends enjoying at lunch

In addition to breakfast staples, Gold Rush Cafe also has some unique bites to try.

Check out the Golden Eggs, which are two hard-boiled eggs that are covered with sausage and panko breading before they’re deep-fried and served up.

Louisiana: The French Press (Lafayette)

JJAVA/Adobe crab cakes on plate with ketchup

The French Press has two locations in Lafayette to choose from, with both serving up unique southern breakfast dishes like crab cake benedict and a shrimp and andouille omelet.

Maine: Becky's Diner (Portland)

Rawpixel.com/Adobe senior friends enjoying breakfast at hotel

Head to the waterfront in Portland to find Becky’s Diner. There are plenty of great traditional breakfast plates, or you can go for something special and get a lobster omelet.

If you're planning on having a big family meal, consider using one of the best cash back credit cards to make the most of purchase and get some money back from it.

Maryland: Blue Moon Cafe (Baltimore)

aicandy/Adobe A crabcake benedict

Head to the Fells Point neighborhood in Baltimore for the Blue Moon Cafe.

One of the things Maryland is known for is crab, and the restaurant adds it into a few different egg benedict options to give your Maryland crab fix.

Massachusetts: Mike's City Diner (Boston)

Adriana/Adobe scrambled eggs bacon and pancakes plate

Mike’s City Diner brags about its huge portions for items like the Premier Omelet with corned beef, duck confit hash, and eggs.

Or try the Emergency Room with three eggs any style, two pancakes, three pieces of bacon or sausage, home fries or grits, and toast.

Michigan: Hudson Cafe (Detroit)

ivanko80/Adobe friends talking while drinking coffee

Hudson Cafe, located in downtown Detroit, is named after the Hudson department store that used to be across the street.

The restaurant's breakfast menu includes cinnamon swirl pancakes and sweet or savory crepes.

Minnesota: Hell's Kitchen (Minneapolis)

Kristen/Adobe friends clinking mimosa glasses at restaurant

Fans of alcoholic breakfast beverages should head to Hell’s Kitchen. It boasts a 35-foot-long Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar with ingredients such as hot sauces, fruit, candy, and more.

Mississippi: Blue and White Restaurant (Tunica)

Joshua Resnick/Adobe country fried steak with eggs

The Blue and White Restaurant has been serving scrumptious Southern food for almost a century.

You can order from the breakfast any time of day to enjoy fare like country fried steak and eggs or biscuits and gravy.

Missouri: Cafe Berlin (Columbia)

Anton/Adobe man putting jam on bread slice

Head to the college town of Columbia for breakfast that includes vegetarian and vegan dishes like biscuits with vegetarian gravy.

The restaurant also has weekend waffle specials that change on a regular basis.

Montana: Cateye Cafe (Bozeman)

djile/Adobe friends enjoying breakfast at indoor restaurant

Downtown Bozeman is home to Cateye Cafe, a family-run restaurant with lots of cat decor in its unique space.

Check out the menu for cat-named items like The Alley Cat, The Felix, and The Tom Cat.

Nebraska: The Green Gateau (Lincoln)

9mot/Adobe fancy breakfast at table in restaurant

Check out The Green Gateau in Lincoln with traditional breakfast items, including quiche and crepes.

The farm-to-table restaurant uses local sources for its breakfast dishes to give them extra freshness.

Nevada: Peppermill (Las Vegas)

ilolab/Adobe omelet with ham tomato and garnishing

Peppermill on Las Vegas Blvd. serves up delicious food in a special space that’s fit for a trip to Las Vegas.

Check out the Maserati Omelet or grab one of the restaurant’s specialty cocktails to enjoy with breakfast classics.

New Hampshire: The Red Arrow Diner (Various locations)

Peter Kim/Adobe fried eggs bacon and waffles

The Red Arrow Diner has been serving up breakfast favorites for a century.

The diner also attracts politicians who visit before presidential primaries to meet with customers, so you might see a famous face while enjoying your eggs and coffee.

New Jersey: Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory (Jersey City)

Anna/Adobe stack of pancakes with maple syrup

The Brownstone Diner & Pancake Factory in Jersey City has plenty of breakfast options, but you’ll want to check out the pancakes it’s best known for.

The restaurant’s menu includes Coconut Pancakes, Black Forest Pancakes, or Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pancakes.

New Mexico: The Pantry (Santa Fe)

matka_Wariatka/Adobe cinnamon buns decorated with sweet sauce

Don’t rush to get to The Pantry for breakfast, as the restaurant serves it all day.

Grab some of the cinnamon rolls made in-house or specialty New Mexican breakfasts like breakfast burritos and Huevos Rancheros.

New York: Russ & Daughters (New York City)

Dušan Zidar/Adobe bagel sandwiches on baking paper

Russ & Daughters, which opened on the Lower East Side in 1904, is a great place to pick up the quintessential New York breakfast of a bagel with lox.

The retailer's three locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn also offer plenty of other New Yorker favorites, like blintzes, latkes, and challah bread pudding.

North Carolina: La Farm Bakery (various locations)

zvkate/Adobe pretty woman eating croissant at cafe

La Farm Bakery has four locations in North Carolina, including three in Cary.

Check out the cafe for breakfast classics like quiche Lorraine, or head to the bakery for breakfast pastries like cinnamon buns and croissants.

North Dakota: Kroll's Diner (various locations)

Claes/Adobe cute messy boy eating taco

Kroll’s Diner serves up breakfast for customers with a mix of both German and American cuisine.

Get a German Omelette with kielbasa or try a Breakfast Fleischkuechle with breakfast ingredients wrapped inside a pastry and deep fried.

Ohio: Butter Cafe (Dayton)

bobex73/Adobe couple talking while having breakfast

Butter Cafe has plenty of breakfast staples as well as options for different dietary needs.

Check out the restaurant’s gluten-free waffles, or choose vegetarian and vegan options like the tofu scramble or vegan pancakes.

Oklahoma: Granny’s Kitchen (Various locations)

Irina Schmidt/Adobe cute boy eating breakfast at restaurant

Granny’s Kitchen has three locations in Oklahoma and serves several variations of eggs benedict, including ones with chorizo or crab meat.

The restaurant also offers great healthy options if you don’t want to go big for breakfast.

Oregon: Screen Door (Portland)

baranq/Adobe having healthy breakfast at cafe

Try one of the two locations for Screen Door in Portland if you’re looking for a delectable breakfast.

The restaurants feature a pork shoulder version of eggs benedict or praline bacon if you want a sweet side.

Pennsylvania: Pamela's Diner (Pittsburgh)

SIX60SIX/Adobe waitress serving fresh tea to customer

Pamela’s Diner has several different locations in Pittsburgh to choose from. Check out the homemade hash options, or order Gail’s Favorite Eggs with cream cheese and scallions.

Rhode Island: Blu Violet (Providence)

Monkey Business/Adobe Friends at brunch

Blu Violet has a trendy feel with specialty brunch cocktails and mocktails. As for food, check the menu for items like autumn pancakes, steak and egg, or a shaved brussel sprout salad.

South Carolina: Johnny D’s (Myrtle Beach)

Pixel-Shot/Adobe woman pouring sauce on waffles

Johnny D’s three locations are great spots for breakfast if you’re in the mood for fun waffles.

Check out the long list of original flavors like Red Velvet Waffles, Funfetti Waffles, and even Banana Split Waffles.

South Dakota: Phillips Avenue Diner (Sioux Falls)

Inna Zakharchenko/Adobe french toasts drenched in honey

The Phillips Avenue Diner in Sioux Falls includes plenty of diner favorites in an eye-catching retro-looking setting.

Check out the Banana Bread French Toast or an Elvis Waffle with peanut butter fluff and bananas.

Tennessee: The Pancake Pantry (Nashville)

icsnaps/Adobe pancakes scrambled eggs and bacon plate

Check out one of the two Pancake Pantry locations in Nashville serving up plenty of breakfast specials.

The highlight of the menu thought is the pancakes with flavors like chocolate, sweet potato, and even a gluten-free option.

Texas: Kerbey Lane Cafe (Austin)

aicandy/Adobe Chicken benedict

Kerbey Lane Cafe has seasonal favorites on its menu, like French toast made with pumpkin bread or carrot cake pancakes.

You can also try some cafe favorites like chicken and pancakes or crispy chicken benedict.

Utah: Penny Ann's Cafe (Various locations)

Monkey Business/Adobe happy woman having breakfast with friend

Check out the four Penny Ann’s Cafe locations throughout Utah for its Heavenly Hot Cakes that you can add toppings to, like cinnamon cream cheese frosting or candied pecans and caramel.

Vermont: The Porch Cafe (Brattleboro)

Joshua Resnick/Adobe jam toast with eggs and sausages

Check out The Porch Cafe in the quaint town of Brattleboro for plenty of breakfast eats.

The cafe’s breakfast menu includes a Garden Party Omelet packed with veggies or a Meaty Omelet with sausage and bacon.

Virginia: Gillie’s (Blacksburg)

Zerbor/Adobe vegan tofu scramble breakfast burrito

You won’t find meat on the menu at Gillie’s, which specializes in vegetarian and seafood dishes. Check out the family-run restaurant with dishes like Smoked Salmon Hash or a Tofu Scramble.

Washington: Portage Bay Cafe (Seattle)

Jorge Argazkiak/Adobe woman taking bite of avocado toast

Choose from one of five Portage Bay Cafe locations in Seattle for a yummy breakfast.

The menu includes a Farmer’s Hash Bowl packed with veggies and Gluten-Free French toast.

West Virginia: Romney Diner (Romney)

Monkey Business/Adobe female waitress serving breakfast to customers

The small building that houses Romney Diner has also been a saddle shop and taxi stand before it started serving breakfast.

Review the menu for breakfast specials or biscuits and gravy with your choice of sausage or chipped beef gravy.

Wisconsin: Mickie’s Dairy Bar (Madison)

pavel siamionov/Adobe An omelette

Head to the college town of Madison for Mickie’s Dairy Bar. The menu at this restaurant includes huge pancakes and plenty of Wisconsin cheese on its different omelet options.

Wyoming: Eggington's (Casper)

chas53/Adobe breakfast burrito with eggs sausages tomato

The menu at Eggington’s includes several varieties of eggs benedict.

You can also get breakfast with a Mexican flair with breakfast quesadillas, burritos, or tamales stuffed with eggs and plenty of other delicious ingredients.

Bottom line

ivanko80/Adobe friends enjoying coffee at cafe

Are you ready to travel to all of these yummy breakfast spots? Then make sure you have the best travel credit cards to earn extra points and perks when you eat out. 

On the other hand, it may be a good idea to stay in if you’re on a budget but you can use it as a great chance to try some unique dishes like the ones served up at these iconic spots.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases
  • Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
  • Longer intro APR on qualifying purchases and balance transfers
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Apply Now
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card
4.1
Apply Now

on Bank of America’s secure website

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

$0

+

Why we like it