I'm a Food/Travel Influencer and Chicago is the Best Breakfast City in the World

Chicago is easily one of my favorite cities to visit. It has everything I love: walkable streets, a solid subway system, incredible food, and that familiar energy that makes it feel like a cleaner, smaller, slightly more Midwest version of NYC.

But every time I come back, one thing always stands out, the breakfast. Chicago’s breakfast and café culture is on another level. Whether you’re after something sweet or savory, quick or sit-down, this city delivers. Everywhere you look, there are outstanding morning bites waiting for you.

Honestly, I think Chicago might be the best breakfast city in the world. Saying that is one thing, but showing you is another.

Allez Cafe- Allez Cafe is a cute cafe from a chef formerly from Alinea, and they have one incredible breakfast sandwich! On a potato roll they add a steamed egg, gouda, hashbrown, a thick piece of bacon glazed in a jalapeno jam, and an onion aioli! The contrast in textures and flavors is so amazing! Its salty, its sweet, it really brings the heat, and is just an explosion of flavors.

Doma Cafe- “Doma” means “home” in Slavic languages and that’s definitely the vibes at this minimalist Croatian influenced cafe in Chicago’s River North Neighborhood. They had a pistachio hazelnut danish that day that was delightful, a cant miss breakfast sandwich that has pork maple sausage, scrambled eggs, and American cheese, all on an English muffin (you can get bacon, avo, or just egg version as well) but the star for me was their hashbrown! Its thin, crunchy, just enough potato in middle, so salty, and definitely giving McDonald’s vibes, which is the best compliment! And what really made it so special was their honey mustard you dip it into!

Kasama- Kasama is the first Filipino restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin star, and while that is technically for their dinner service, their breakfast is maybe the best ever? They have incredible pastries and coffees, when I was there, there was this truffle croissant that had honey, pearl sugar, black truffles, and was filled with delice de bourgogne cheese! But if you are there, you are there for the best breakfast sandwich Ive ever had! You have alot of options but for me, you have to order this this steamed egg on a potato roll sandwich with longanisa sausage, double American cheese, and do not forget the hashbrown!

This line can get really like, so what I usually do is a place an order of time, and you can walk right in and grab your breakfast! They have some benches outside to the side, and even in a Chicago winter, itll be worth it!

Loaf Lounge- In just a few shorts years, Loaf Lounge has gone from pandemic popup to neighborhood staple, and a must eat in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood. Great coffee, a daily selection of pastries (i got the pear butter cinnamon roll), and a great breakfast sandwich! On this incredible house made English muffin they add a garlic maple sausage, runny egg, American cheese, and a herby mayo. My only mistake was not adding on the hashbrown too!

Mindy’s Bakery- Mindy’s Bakery came on my radar after hearing CM Punk raving about their muffins, and he wasn’t wrong! This bakery makes both amazing sweet and savory treats, and when I was there I got the bialy with roasted red onions, fromage blanc, and parmasean, and then my mind was blown by their Hot Fudge Babka! Just warm and gooey, and butter, it was perfection.

Publican Quality Bread- There are a few locations from the James Beard award winning baker Greg Wade, but no matter where you go, you are going to find incredible breads, pastries, and sandwiches, all changing up depending on what time you get there! I got there early in the morning and grabbed a chocolate croissant that was literally just pulled out of the oven, and I grabbed their savory brioche pizza, which was topped with zucchini, peppers, and onions! There is a reason you can find their breads in restaurants all over the city!

Uncle Mike’s Place- For over 30 years Uncle Mike’s Place has been a neighborhood loved all day Filipino breakfast spot, in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village! There is one side of the menu that is traditional American diner food, but you are going to want to eat from the Filipino side! When I was there I got Filipino breakfast combo with two eggs over easy, garlic rice, and I picked both longanisa which is Grilled anise wine cured sweet chorizo sausage, and the tocino grilled anise wine cured pork shoulder. This is just pure comfort food.

Honestly, I think Chicago might be the best breakfast city in the world. Saying that is one thing, but showing you is another.

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