Boston is known to have a very diverse food scene: Italian, American, Asian, Spanish, and much more. If you’re craving something you can probably find it either in or around Boston. But when people think about food here the first thing they are most likely to think about is lunch or dinner food. For example, if someone asks you “Hey let’s go out to eat sometime” your first thought is probably “oh ok we’re going out for lunch or dinner.” And there is nothing wrong with that. But Boston is also home to some amazing breakfast restaurants that you just need to try! So next time you are planning a food outing, use this list to spice up your morning.
7. Harry’s All American
Harry’s is a local breakfast spot in between West Roxbury and Roslindale with a menu that mainly consists of American food but you can also get Greek and Mexican omelets. Your normal early Bird specials are breakfast burritos and sandwiches, and French toast. However, they do expand beyond traditional breakfast foods with menu items like their Texas French toast and Sweet Coconut Crunch French Toast. Harry’s also has a wall that is a whole mirror. The mirror wall is usually painted for holidays or seasons that are coming up which gives it a warm vibe. Harry’s is just your normal yet good local breakfast place in a residential neighborhood of Boston. I gave Harry’s the seventh place on my list because although it is a mostly American breakfast place their food is pretty good and they do have some diverse items on the menu. Plus their servings are pretty big which is always a win.
A few reviews from customers are listed down below:
“Quick service, parking isn’t awful either. I stopped randomly to get some breakfast, I would definitely suggest this spot if you’re looking for some good breakfast or lunch I’d say give it a shot” “Great food. Sunday brunches are awesome..sometimes it’s crowded that a res or call ahead for seats. Sat and Sundays crowds. A+cooking ..great staff”
6 . The Friendly Toast Restaurant
The Friendly Toast Restaurant is about a three-minute walk from the Orange Lines Back Bay Station. This cute spot has great food and “funky decor.” Its menu features items like omelets, scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast hash browns, and pasta bowls. This cute spot also has vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options.
Click here to check out their eye-catching menu!
Although the prices may be on the higher side this restaurant has many locations in the New England area and the reviews are also pretty good. One thing to keep in mind is that they are known not to open right on time and also they get packed quickly which is why I gave The Friendly Toast Restaurant sixth on my list.
A few customer reviews are listed down below:
“Pretty good spot with good service. They didn’t open exactly when they said they would – a small line formed outside until they let us in at 8:10 am. I got the chicken and waffles and one piece of the French toast. Both items were good but definitely not the best I’ve ever had. The chicken and waffles were more weighted toward the savory side than the sweet side and the French toast was pretty thick so one piece should be enough. This place is worth checking out if you’re in the area and want a hearty American breakfast.”
“This is a must-go brunch place in Boston! The staff is super friendly, and the food is absolutely amazing. I really recommend their Chicken and Waffles as well as the french toast! Make sure to reserve a table in advance for weekends, since it can get very packed.”
5. JPizle
JPizle is an all-day restaurant with a great breakfast menu in Jamaica Plain that serves American food with a touch of Colombian vibes. They have breakfast taquitos, huevos rancheros (which is basically two eggs), corn tortilla with red beans and chorizo and avocados, pancakes, muffins, bagel pizza, and your regular sides like hashbrowns and toast and bacon. They also have a variety of omelets that range from Spanish omelets to Colombian Omelets and American omelets. They also have waffles and french toast pancakes. With all that said I love how this is a restaurant that has a Latin and American vibe to it and reasonable prices, leading me to give it the fifth spot on my list.
A few customer reviews are listed down below:
“Delicious and beautifully displayed breakfast! This spot deserves more attention from foodies for sure. The waiter is very nice and seems to know everyone personally in the local area. The price is top-notch! Just a great and well-rounded little diner.”
“Oh man. I come here all the time, and I’m sure they have lots of good stuff, but I’ll never know, because I love the huevos rancheros so much I never get anything else. Crispy tortilla with chorizo, lots of cheese, perfect avocado, fresh greens, a delicious tomato salsa I wish I had the recipe for, home fries with fresh rosemary, eggs that always have firm whites and runny yolks… it’s all good. Everyone I’ve taken has agreed. It’s my favorite breakfast in Boston. Bravo.”
4. Joe’s 320 Café
Joe’s 320 Café is a fairly new breakfast spot. Located on the west Roxbury-Dedham line, Joe’s is a cute and small breakfast/lunch spot. Although from the outside it may look like your average restaurant, Joe’s is run by a chef who has culinary experience serving restaurants across America and Europe which explains the amazing and authentic belgian waffles, brioche french toast and beautiful food preparation. Not only does the café have a breakfast menu but also a lunch menu. With items usually never going over $15. This cute, cozy café gets the fourth rank on my list
A customers review is listed down below:
“Tasty food, excellent service, and fantastic presentation in a Tiny little cafe on the corner of the road. Stepping in for breakfast, we were expecting some normal looking food items but when our food arrived the presentation was very professional with a taste to match. Complex flavors and quality ingredients made the experience something we will remember for quite some time. Definitely will be back to sample some of the other choices. The waitresses were attentive to our needs and kept our drinks filled whenever they got low. Joe’s 320 Cafe is Top of the class.”
3. Theo’s Cozy Corner Restaurant
Theo’s Cozy Corner Restaurant is located in the North end just down the street from the Old North Church and serves American, Italian, and Brazilian breakfast and lunch. They have steak and eggs, two different kinds of eggs benedict, omelets, stacks of pancakes, waffles, french toast, and plain waffles with fresh strawberries which is always delicious.
The food here is great and the location is ideal for people who are visiting Boston. The only downside is that Theo’s Cozy Corner Restaurant is cash only. With a variety of different cultures in their food and a 4.7-star review, Theo’s Cozy Corner Restaurant gets the third spot on my list.
A few customer reviews are listed down below:
“Super friendly, full of locals, and delicious food. Peak diner material right here. And great prices! What more could you ask for? Cash only though, so keep that in mind. There’s an atm a few stores down.”
“So happy to return to this gem in the North End and find them cranking out amazing food as always. This place has everything you want in a local restaurant- friendly service, hardworking staff, and consistently delicious food. It’s old school in the best ways with good pricing.
2. South Street Diner
South Street Diner is only a six-minute walk from South Station and will make you feel like you have just entered a whole new atmosphere. “It’s straight out of a ’90s sitcom—complete with the giant coffee cup sign perched atop its roof” said Eric Grossman & Olivia Vanni, writers from TimeOut. And I completely agree! Not only does the outside give a retro feel, but so does the inside which houses a working jukebox and cushioned bar stool seats.
Considering that it was built in 1943 to serve local factory workers, the menu is also pretty diverse for breakfast food with a number of different kinds of pancakes ranging from banana walnut to Boston Créme pancakes. But pancakes are not all they serve, they also have breakfast burritos, steak and eggs French toast omelets sandwiches. Check out their menu here. Although this list is about breakfast places the South Street diner is open 24/7 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I gave this diner the second place on my list. Read a customer review down below:
“Never can get disappointed with this 24-hour ‘stamp’ of what a Boston Diner should be like. Barely a wait time, friendly staff and always great tunes playing. You can sit outside or in, option’s yours. The dishes taste exactly the way you’d expect. Need to alter your menu choice? SURE! They’ll take care of it! Whether food, drink or all of the above, South Street Diner always aims to please. Look forward to paying multiple visits because one visit is never enough”
1. The 50’s Diner-Dedham
The 50s Diner is located right before you enter Legacy Place in Dedham Massachusetts. This diner is pretty hard to miss with the Blue and pink colors popping out from a brick building with the word “Diner” on top. How could you not wonder? The inside is filled with old flyers, newspapers, pictures, and ads from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and even ’90s. The portions here are big enough to make you fall and are sure to have you taking a three-hour nap when you get home. They also serve milkshakes which are my favorite because you get two with each order of a milkshake. This is because their milkshake machine is accustomed to making old-timey shakes like the ones you see in The movie “Grease.” The prices are reasonable, almost never being more than $12. Overall I gave this diner the first place! A few customer reviews are listed down below:
“Went on the busiest day of the week, Sunday, and they still sat us within 10 minutes. Very impressive. This was our first time at this diner and it exceeded our expectations! The staff was very friendly and helpful. We both got very large portions of the breakfast combo. It was very affordable. Additionally, the meals we ordered came with unlimited coffee! I would recommend this place. Enjoy.”
“Great! Laid back, old-time diner experience. The staff were friendly and the service was prompt even on a busy Sunday morning. We were seated immediately although a line out the door eventually formed because of the amount of satisfied loyal customers. Food was good and priced right!”
After reading about these seven great breakfast places in and around the Boston area, I hope you try some out and start getting up with your friends earlier to go get breakfast! While also our supporting small businesses as well; because after all breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
