Scholars tell us that the word “brunch” was originally a slang term used at England’s Oxford University, first recorded in a newspaper article in 1895 (“When a man makes lunch his first meal of the day it becomes ‘brunch’”). It wasn’t until the 1930s, though, that the word — and the concept — started to become popular in the U.S.
The biggest brunch occasion of the year for American restaurants, Mother’s Day, has recently passed (in pre-pandemic times, eateries typically served the meal to something like 25 million adults on that holiday). Brunch is always popular, though — so much so that what was originally a Sundays-only affair now extends to Saturdays and holidays, and in some cases has become a daily specialty.
The line between breakfast and brunch isn’t necessarily well-defined, of course. Does a hearty breakfast (eggs Benedict or chilaquiles, say) eaten at 9 a.m. count as breakfast or brunch? What about a bowl of oatmeal and some toast at noon? (You’ll be surprised at what people eat for breakfast around the world.)
It’s probably best not to worry about the distinction between the two meals, and to acknowledge that either can encompass a wide range of foods.
Click here to see the 50 best places for breakfast and brunch
To identify the 50 best brunch spots in the U.S, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the ranking of best brunch spots on the Official Yelp Blog, which based their choices on average score and volume of reviews for restaurants in the “Breakfast and Brunch” category. All establishments listed had a passing health score as of April 16, 2021, and all were open on Sundays as of that date. Yelp limited restaurants to a maximum of three in any one metro area in the interests of geographic diversity. Information on outdoor dining and curbside pick-up is also from Yelp. Note that because of constantly changing regulations and restaurant policies concerning COVID-19, these details may be out of date and should be verified.
24/7 Tempo has drawn a list of 50 top places for breakfast and brunch around the country. Some will satisfy the traditional idea of brunch as a leisurely sit-down meal with a wide choice of dishes (many of them egg-based) and perhaps generous servings of mimosas or bloody Marys. Others are diner-casual, but with noteworthy versions of diner food; still others specialize in tacos or crêpes or breakfast sandwiches. (If those last items are your favorite, consider the best breakfast sandwich in every state everyone should try.)
Breakfast or brunch, fancy or plain, however, all of these are well worth waking up for.
Comfort Café
> Location: San Antonio, Texas
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Porque No Tacos
> Location: Oakland, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
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Tim is Making Great Coffee
> Location: San Juan Capistrano, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Little France Coffee & Bakery
> Location: Mission Viejo, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
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The Crêpe Shop
> Location: Chicago, Illinois
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
Uncle Af’s
> Location: Agoura Hills, California
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
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Granny’s Tacos
> Location: Austin, Texas
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
Café Miriam
> Location: Denver, Colorado
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Frogtown Gourmet Tacos
> Location: Los Angeles, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Las Mañanitas
> Location: Fresno, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
The Modern Tea Room
> Location: Lancaster, California
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Shewhat
> Location: Oakland, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
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Cesarina
> Location: San Diego, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Sonoma Wine Shop & La Bodega Kitchen
> Location: Sebastopol, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Three Borders Brunch & Grill
> Location: Los Angeles, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
Clary’s Corner Cafe
> Location: Lake Worth, Florida
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
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Guajiros Miami Eatery
> Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Gypsea Crêpes
> Location: Panama City Beach, Florida
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Chaupain Bakery
> Location: Laguna Hills, California
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Fernandez Restaurant
> Location: San Diego, California
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Coffee ME Up
> Location: Portland, Maine
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Café Porche and Snowbar
> Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Catrina Café
> Location: Seal Beach, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Missy’s Main Street Café
> Location: Rockaway, New Jersey
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Steel Cup Café
> Location: Long Beach, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
Butler’s Pantry Breakfast
> Location: Stowe, Vermont
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Barista Del Barrio
> Location: Tucson, Arizona
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Hold Fast Kitchen and Spirits
> Location: New York, New York
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
Mandy’s Breakfast House
> Location: Sonora, California
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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The Hidden Kitchen
> Location: Cambria, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Fatima’s Café
> Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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The Alcove
> Location: Sunnyside, New York
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
Worth Takeaway
> Location: Mesa, Arizona
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Tibbitts @ Fern Hill
> Location: Tacoma, Washington
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Heat Da Spot
> Location: Washington, District of Columbia
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
MeeMa’s
> Location: Long Beach, California
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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San Pedro’s
> Location: Dallas, Texas
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Indian Gardens Café & Market
> Location: Sedona, Arizona
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Zenaida’s Café
> Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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DV8 Kitchen
> Location: Lexington, Kentucky
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: Yes
JJ’s Diner
> Location: Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Early to Rise
> Location: San Francisco, California
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Hawaiian Island Café
> Location: Waimanalo, Hawaii
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Shark Bite
> Location: Navarre, Florida
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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The Baker
> Location: New Bedford, Massachusetts
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Hungry Hunter Restaurant
> Location: Branson, Missouri
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Legal Grounds Café
> Location: Wilmington, Delaware
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
Max’s Table
> Location: Osprey, Florida
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
The Nook Eatery
> Location: New Rochelle, New York
> Outdoor dining: No
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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Ellana’s Kitchen & More
> Location: Newton, Massachusetts
> Outdoor dining: Yes
> Curbside pickup or delivery: No
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