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A burrito on a grill with an expanse of melted cheese that’s crusting at the edges. — Lito’s Burritos.

Where to Get Breakfast in the Twin Cities

Ropa vieja, hot honey French toast, and other morning delights

by Justine Jones and Stacy Brooks Updated Nov 15, 2024, 10:14am CST

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Lito’s Burritos.

| Tim Evans/Eater Twin Cities

by Justine Jones and Stacy Brooks Updated Nov 15, 2024, 10:14am CST

From classic waffles and pancakes to hearty hashes, no meal is more foundational than breakfast. This map is designed for early birds in search of a delicious start to the day — savor breakfast tacos in Northeast, sweet banana churro waffles in St. Paul, or a tender ropa vieja with plantains on a sunny south Minneapolis patio. (For other morning delights, check out local brunches, coffee shops, and bakeries.) Here’s an early riser’s guide to breakfast in the Twin Cities, with restaurants listed geographically (not ranked) as always.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Lito's Burritos

For LA-style breakfast burritos, look no further than Lito’s Burritos, operating out of El Tejaban restaurant in Richfield. Miguel Hernandez’s burritos are stuffed with beef birria and queso blanco; chorizo and potatoes crisped in chile de arbol; and, in a true moment of Califorcana, steak with guacamole and French fries, wrapped in a crunchy cheese crust upon request. Hernandez serves a number of other Chicano dishes too, from asada fries to birria tortas, all accompanied by his sister Diana Hernandez’s nutty mazapan frappuccinos, horchata cold brews, and mochas laced with Oaxacan chocolate.

6519 Nicollet Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota 55423

A burrito stuffed with potatoes, eggs, and meats, cut in half and wrapped in crunch cheese, on a small silver tray with two small dishes of sauce. — Breakfast burritos at Lito’s.

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Guavas Cuban Cafe

Guava’s opens at 8 a.m. on the weekend, making it a great option for when you’re too hungry (or busy) to wait for brunch. The menu leans savory, catering to meat lovers with chimichurri steak and eggs and vaca frita braised beef hash. But the egg dishes — like the Havana breakfast, which pairs eggs with moro rice and a warming picadillo — are just as satisfying. Guava’s also serves Cuban-style coffee drinks.

5607 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

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Wise Acre Eatery

A true farm-to-table restaurant, Wise Acre Eatery serves dishes made with ingredients straight from its Plato, Minnesota farm. Try an egg sandwich with kimchi and pimento cheese, or French toast with squash maple syrup and toasted walnuts. The owners also operate the garden center next door, so the space here is lush with greenery.

5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Kimchi grilled cheese comes with American, gruyere, and cheddar at Wise Acre Eatery. — Kimchi grilled cheese at Wise Acre.

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Hot Plate

This Nokomis diner is filled to bursting with knick-knacks and kitsch, and has plenty of cozy booths for curling up with a steaming mug of coffee. Tuck into a plate of the Grand Marais scramble — rich and smoky with trout, cream cheese, and asparagus — or a short stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes (some of the best in the Cities) topped with tart lingonberry butter.

5204 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Pancakes topped with pink butter on a white plate. — Buttermilk pancakes topped with tart lingonberry butter.

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Asa's Bakery

Artist-turned-baker Asa Diebolt opened his cozy bakery in 2019 after running as a farmer’s market stand for several years; he moved into a bigger space in the Nokomis neighborhood in 2022. Morning customers from across the Twin Cities flock to Asa’s for fresh New York-style bagels or bialys — the bagel’s roasted, onion-filled cousin — with a whole selection of smears and toppings.

5011 S 34th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

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Sun Street Breads

Sun Street Breads serves stellar baked goods and more from award-winning baker Solveig Tofte in Minneapolis’s Tangletown neighborhood. The atmosphere is casual and, of course, sunny: Light pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows, and a sidewalk patio is open in the warmer months. For a heartier breakfast, pair a fragrant cardamom bun with a biscuit egg-and-bacon sandwich, or poutine.

4600 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

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Alma Provisions

Alma Provisions, a tiny cafe by the Alma team, is southwest Minneapolis’s newest buzzing morning spot. The menu is a slightly abbreviated version of the original Cafe Alma’s: think coffee, tea, pastries, oatmeal, egg strata, egg sandwiches, and more. (Keep an eye out for bakery items like lemon currant scones and fresh cinnamon rolls drizzled with icing.) Alma Provisions’ cafe space is standing-room-only, but there’s a takeout window, and apothecary items stocked inside.

812 W 46th St no 2, Minneapolis, MN 55419

The exterior of a brick building with a white sign that says “Alma Provisions.” — Alma’s south Minneapolis outpost.

Cafe Ceres

Pastry chef Shawn McKenzie, who has run some of the Twin Cities’ finest pastry programs, recently garnered a James Beard nomination for her work at Café Cerés. McKenzie’s pistachio croissants strike a perfect balance of airiness and nuttiness; and her pillowy Turkish bagels — a.k.a. simit — are lovely with a cool smear of labneh and za’atar.

3509 W 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410

A braided bagel coated in sesame seeds on a plate with za’atar, lox, tomatoes, and labneh. — The Turkish bagel, coated in sesame seeds.

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Our Kitchen

Our Kitchen, a tiny diner on West 36th Street, looks more like a country cottage than a bustling breakfast spot. But step inside for one of the best diner breakfasts you can find in Minneapolis. The pancakes are rough-hewn and studded with chocolate chips; the hash browns have a golden, crispy lid. Fair warning, you may have to wait to snag one of the bar stools.

813 W 36th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

A small blue building with tables on the patio and people waiting outside. — Our Kitchen on 36th.

Also featured in:

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Victor's 1959 Cafe

This classic south Minneapolis restaurant has been serving Cuban favorites and classics for more than 20 years. Order the Basque stew — eggs with a Creole stew of Spanish chorizo, ham, and vegetables — or the slow-cooked ropa vieja with eggs and plantains. Victor’s has a great coffee menu, too: Try grab a creamy cafe con leche from the little sliding glass window out front. The tropical-themed patio is a great spot for sunny weekend mornings.

3756 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409

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May Day Cafe

May Day is a quirky, soon-to-be-worked owned Powderhorn cafe and bakery with great vegan options. The menu changes frequently: Expect baked goods like dill pickle cheese scones and cranberry bread on Friday and raspberry pistachio doughnuts on Saturday, for example. (Keep an eye on May Day’s Instagram for the timeliest updates.) There’s also a breakfast menu of hearty dishes like quiche, breakfast sandwiches, and burritos. Take the breakfast haul over to nearby Powderhorn Park for a picnic.

3440 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Also featured in:

The Best Restaurants for Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Highland Grill

Modern comfort foods are the theme of Highland Grill’s vast menu. The classics are done so well here — a simple stack of the fluffy pancakes is a great bet, as is the blueberry French toast, served with whipped cream cheese. Or try the sweet potato hash, made with spicy hunks of Italian sausage, kale, and zippy peppers.

771 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116

Two fluffy pancakes with golden crust are topped with a scoop of butter, melting. On the side is a small silver pitcher. — Pancake classics at Highland Grill.

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Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit

It’s all in the crust at Hot Hands. For breakfast, choose from the savory pot pie selections, or sweet pies like toasted vanilla with a Nilla wafer crust, pecan chess, or banana cream, topped with a mascarpone that looks like fluffy ski moguls. Also on the menu are a variety of biscuit pairings, maple fried chicken, and more.

272 Snelling Ave S #100, St Paul, MN 55105

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Day by Day Cafe

West Seventh’s cozy, quaint Day by Day Cafe dishes up classic American breakfast dishes: eggs Benny, corned beef hash, homemade granola, buttermilk short stacks. Highlights are the homemade buckwheat pancakes, the French toast, the koi pond on the patio, and the early bird specials (Day by Day opens at 7 a.m. daily).

477 7th Street West, MN 55102

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The French Hen Cafe

The French Hen Cafe serves a French and Creole-influenced breakfast menu daily in Cathedral Hill. Anyone with a sweet tooth should try the coconut lime French toast — on the savory side, there’s a mushroom crepe and a Creole market hash. Split the difference with the massive, salty-sweet pancake, which is loaded with bacon, cheddar, and chives, and served with sides of maple syrup and honey butter.

518 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102

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A post shared by The French Hen Cafe (@frenchhencafe)

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Mickey's Diner

This beloved downtown St. Paul dining car is back in action after a four-year hiatus — pop in for eggs with hash browns, pancakes, or, if you’re feeling feisty, a breakfast burger. Early birds take note: Micky’s isn’t open a full 24 hours like it used to be, but it does fire the grills at 6 a.m. daily.

36 7th St W (at Saint Peter St), Saint Paul, MN 55102

Also featured in:

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The Buttered Tin

The second its doors opened in St. Paul’s Lowertown, the Buttered Tin became a local breakfast favorite. Here, old-school breakfast favorites are given new life: Try a Benedict made with Lake Superior walleye, hot honey apple French Toast, or a smothered breakfast burrito. The Buttered Tin also serves boozy breakfast drinks.

237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

A restaurant’s interior with white walls, a counter to the left, and diners seated at tables to the right. — Inside the Buttered Tin.

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Keys Cafe & Bakery

If you get one thing off of Keys’ classic diner-style breakfast menu, make it the chocolate chip banana pancakes. These cakes have the slightest hint of sugar in the batter, which allows the mellow sweetness of the banana slices to shine through — not to mention the chocolate chips, which take on delicious, toffee-like char when they hit the griddle. The omelets, hashes, and pie are also great breakfast bets.

767 Raymond Ave (btwn University Ave & Territorial Rd), Saint Paul, MN 55114

Two large pancakes topped with butter on a white plate. — Keys’ pancakes are BIG.

Colossal Cafe

Colossal Cafe serves giant caramel rolls, crumbly biscuits, and yeast-based pancakes that rise to impressive heights. Try the simple short stack with maple syrup, or the signature topping of honey-brown sugar syrup, apples, walnuts, and slices of brie cheese. Other classics like omelets, frittatas, and breakfast sandwiches are available as well.

2315 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55108

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Cafe Racer Kitchen

Cafe Racer’s arepas — subtly sweet and soft on the inside, fried golden on the outside — are at the heart of this pared-down Latin American menu. For breakfast, they’re served with marmalade or kielbasa, or as a side to an omelet topped with bright salsa criolla and pico.

2929 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

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Maria's Cafe

Maria’s Cafe, a beloved fixture of Minneapolis’s Seward neighborhood, pairs American breakfast fare with Columbian dishes like arepas rellenas, calentao con huevos, and paisa bowls (layered with beef, Colombian chorizo, and chicharron). Maria’s serves every pancake you could dream of, from chocolate chip to plantain, but the most famous are the chachapas Venezolanas, or corn pancakes, which are crispy around the edges, dusted with cotija cheese, and studded with sunshine-yellow kernels of corn.

1113 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Corn pancakes dusted with cotija cheese on a white plate. — Corn pancakes from Maria’s.

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Band Box Diner

Band Box Diner — the iconic, cherry red diner diner at the corner of 10th and 14th streets in Minneapolis’s Elliot Park neighborhood — closed during the early days of the pandemic, but reopened in 2023 with the same menu of buttermilk pancakes, omelets, butter-slathered English, and other delectable greasy spoon fare.

729 S 10th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Also featured in:

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Hard Times Cafe

Since 1992, this punk cafe — known for its hand-painted, bright green façade on Riverside Avenue — has been a classic haunt for vegan and vegetarian bites. Breakfast classics include the vegan helter skelter with hash browns and tofu, vegan biscuits with mushroom gravy, and the vegan “big fat pancake” with maple syrup.

1821 Riverside Ave (at Cedar Ave), Minneapolis, MN 55454

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Nicollet Diner

Nicollet Diner is the Twin Cities’ quintessential 24-hour breakfast spot. Swing by at any hour of the day for exceptionally fluffy buttermilk pancakes, chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, or poutine, best paired with a creamy malt. Cocktails are poured until 2 a.m. daily.

1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

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Al's Breakfast

Known affectionately as Minneapolis’s narrowest restaurant, Al’s Breakfast, which opened in 1950, is nestled into a 10-food-wide storefront in Dinkytown. The cook might sing to the radio while he’s dolloping sour cream and strawberries on hot waffles; strangers rub elbows, literally, as they tuck into salami scrambles. In a parallel universe, Al’s could have become a tourist trap — but in this one, it’s an enduring, beloved staple of Minnesota’s diner scene.

413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

A black and white photo of a man in a white apron standing behind the counter at Al’s breakfast. The heads and shoulders of two people are visible in the foreground. — Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown.

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Rise Bagel Co.

Set in the heart of the North Loop neighborhood, Rise combines an old-fashioned approach to bagel making with organic ingredients. Grab a rosemary bagel with scallion cream cheese, or try something a little more adventurous, like the Artisan, which is loaded with bacon, havarti, rosemary Butter, and apple mustard. Rise has great vegan smears, too.

530 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Bagels in a box with a side dish of cream cheese. — A schmear box from Rise Bagel.

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Sammy’s Avenue Eatery

Sammy’s Avenue Eatery is known for its turkey clubs and ham melts, but don’t overlook the breakfast sandwich menu. Egg and cheese sandwiches, with a choice of pastrami, turkey, bacon, or chicken, all clock in around $6 or so.

1101 W Broadway #1, Minneapolis, MN 55411

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Ideal Diner

Ideal Diner, a tiny, sunshine-yellow diner on Central Avenue, has served Northeast Minneapolis since 1949. Today, it’s one of the few spots in the Cities you can get a cup of coffee for $1.75. Breakfast dishes are served all day — the Polish Man breakfast, a combo of eggs, Polish sausage, and hash browns, nods to the neighborhood’s Eastern European immigrant roots. The buttermilk short stacks are served with a generous dollop of butter.

1314 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

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ViV!R

Mexican cafe and bakery Vivir’s morning menu features chilaquiles verde, breakfast tacos, avocado tostadas, and more. To end breakfast on a sweet note, save room for chocolate mole cupcakes or a guava roll.

1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

A breakfast sandwich with a gooey egg yolk on a bun is front and center, with an orange cocktail with a frothy top, and a white bowl of crispy potatoes in the background. — A breakfast sandwich from Vivir.

Marty's Deli

Marty’s Deli’s breakfast sandwiches, served on airy, golden focaccia, pair a neat egg patty with thick slices of Peterson bacon, a sausage patty, braised greens, or even hash browns. The real clincher is the combination of garlic aioli and sharp American cheese, which meld into one gooey, creamy bite. Get there before noon to grab one, and keep an eye on Instagram for specials.

400 NE Lowry Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55418

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Lito's Burritos

6519 Nicollet Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota 55423

For LA-style breakfast burritos, look no further than Lito’s Burritos, operating out of El Tejaban restaurant in Richfield. Miguel Hernandez’s burritos are stuffed with beef birria and queso blanco; chorizo and potatoes crisped in chile de arbol; and, in a true moment of Califorcana, steak with guacamole and French fries, wrapped in a crunchy cheese crust upon request. Hernandez serves a number of other Chicano dishes too, from asada fries to birria tortas, all accompanied by his sister Diana Hernandez’s nutty mazapan frappuccinos, horchata cold brews, and mochas laced with Oaxacan chocolate.

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6519 Nicollet Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota 55423

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A burrito stuffed with potatoes, eggs, and meats, cut in half and wrapped in crunch cheese, on a small silver tray with two small dishes of sauce. — Breakfast burritos at Lito’s.

Guavas Cuban Cafe

5607 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Guava’s opens at 8 a.m. on the weekend, making it a great option for when you’re too hungry (or busy) to wait for brunch. The menu leans savory, catering to meat lovers with chimichurri steak and eggs and vaca frita braised beef hash. But the egg dishes — like the Havana breakfast, which pairs eggs with moro rice and a warming picadillo — are just as satisfying. Guava’s also serves Cuban-style coffee drinks.

5607 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

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Wise Acre Eatery

5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

A true farm-to-table restaurant, Wise Acre Eatery serves dishes made with ingredients straight from its Plato, Minnesota farm. Try an egg sandwich with kimchi and pimento cheese, or French toast with squash maple syrup and toasted walnuts. The owners also operate the garden center next door, so the space here is lush with greenery.

5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

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Kimchi grilled cheese comes with American, gruyere, and cheddar at Wise Acre Eatery. — Kimchi grilled cheese at Wise Acre.

Hot Plate

5204 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

This Nokomis diner is filled to bursting with knick-knacks and kitsch, and has plenty of cozy booths for curling up with a steaming mug of coffee. Tuck into a plate of the Grand Marais scramble — rich and smoky with trout, cream cheese, and asparagus — or a short stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes (some of the best in the Cities) topped with tart lingonberry butter.

5204 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

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Pancakes topped with pink butter on a white plate. — Buttermilk pancakes topped with tart lingonberry butter.

Asa's Bakery

5011 S 34th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Artist-turned-baker Asa Diebolt opened his cozy bakery in 2019 after running as a farmer’s market stand for several years; he moved into a bigger space in the Nokomis neighborhood in 2022. Morning customers from across the Twin Cities flock to Asa’s for fresh New York-style bagels or bialys — the bagel’s roasted, onion-filled cousin — with a whole selection of smears and toppings.

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5011 S 34th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

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Sun Street Breads

4600 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Sun Street Breads serves stellar baked goods and more from award-winning baker Solveig Tofte in Minneapolis’s Tangletown neighborhood. The atmosphere is casual and, of course, sunny: Light pours in from floor-to-ceiling windows, and a sidewalk patio is open in the warmer months. For a heartier breakfast, pair a fragrant cardamom bun with a biscuit egg-and-bacon sandwich, or poutine.

4600 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Visit Website

Alma Provisions

812 W 46th St no 2, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Alma Provisions, a tiny cafe by the Alma team, is southwest Minneapolis’s newest buzzing morning spot. The menu is a slightly abbreviated version of the original Cafe Alma’s: think coffee, tea, pastries, oatmeal, egg strata, egg sandwiches, and more. (Keep an eye out for bakery items like lemon currant scones and fresh cinnamon rolls drizzled with icing.) Alma Provisions’ cafe space is standing-room-only, but there’s a takeout window, and apothecary items stocked inside.

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812 W 46th St no 2, Minneapolis, MN 55419

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The exterior of a brick building with a white sign that says “Alma Provisions.” — Alma’s south Minneapolis outpost.

Cafe Ceres

3509 W 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410

Pastry chef Shawn McKenzie, who has run some of the Twin Cities’ finest pastry programs, recently garnered a James Beard nomination for her work at Café Cerés. McKenzie’s pistachio croissants strike a perfect balance of airiness and nuttiness; and her pillowy Turkish bagels — a.k.a. simit — are lovely with a cool smear of labneh and za’atar.

3509 W 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410

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A braided bagel coated in sesame seeds on a plate with za’atar, lox, tomatoes, and labneh. — The Turkish bagel, coated in sesame seeds.

Our Kitchen

813 W 36th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Our Kitchen, a tiny diner on West 36th Street, looks more like a country cottage than a bustling breakfast spot. But step inside for one of the best diner breakfasts you can find in Minneapolis. The pancakes are rough-hewn and studded with chocolate chips; the hash browns have a golden, crispy lid. Fair warning, you may have to wait to snag one of the bar stools.

813 W 36th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

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A small blue building with tables on the patio and people waiting outside. — Our Kitchen on 36th.

Victor's 1959 Cafe

3756 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409

This classic south Minneapolis restaurant has been serving Cuban favorites and classics for more than 20 years. Order the Basque stew — eggs with a Creole stew of Spanish chorizo, ham, and vegetables — or the slow-cooked ropa vieja with eggs and plantains. Victor’s has a great coffee menu, too: Try grab a creamy cafe con leche from the little sliding glass window out front. The tropical-themed patio is a great spot for sunny weekend mornings.

3756 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409

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May Day Cafe

3440 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

May Day is a quirky, soon-to-be-worked owned Powderhorn cafe and bakery with great vegan options. The menu changes frequently: Expect baked goods like dill pickle cheese scones and cranberry bread on Friday and raspberry pistachio doughnuts on Saturday, for example. (Keep an eye on May Day’s Instagram for the timeliest updates.) There’s also a breakfast menu of hearty dishes like quiche, breakfast sandwiches, and burritos. Take the breakfast haul over to nearby Powderhorn Park for a picnic.

3440 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

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Highland Grill

771 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116

Modern comfort foods are the theme of Highland Grill’s vast menu. The classics are done so well here — a simple stack of the fluffy pancakes is a great bet, as is the blueberry French toast, served with whipped cream cheese. Or try the sweet potato hash, made with spicy hunks of Italian sausage, kale, and zippy peppers.

771 Cleveland Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116

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Two fluffy pancakes with golden crust are topped with a scoop of butter, melting. On the side is a small silver pitcher. — Pancake classics at Highland Grill.

Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit

272 Snelling Ave S #100, St Paul, MN 55105

It’s all in the crust at Hot Hands. For breakfast, choose from the savory pot pie selections, or sweet pies like toasted vanilla with a Nilla wafer crust, pecan chess, or banana cream, topped with a mascarpone that looks like fluffy ski moguls. Also on the menu are a variety of biscuit pairings, maple fried chicken, and more.

272 Snelling Ave S #100, St Paul, MN 55105

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Day by Day Cafe

477 7th Street West, MN 55102

West Seventh’s cozy, quaint Day by Day Cafe dishes up classic American breakfast dishes: eggs Benny, corned beef hash, homemade granola, buttermilk short stacks. Highlights are the homemade buckwheat pancakes, the French toast, the koi pond on the patio, and the early bird specials (Day by Day opens at 7 a.m. daily).

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477 7th Street West, MN 55102

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The French Hen Cafe

518 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102

The French Hen Cafe serves a French and Creole-influenced breakfast menu daily in Cathedral Hill. Anyone with a sweet tooth should try the coconut lime French toast — on the savory side, there’s a mushroom crepe and a Creole market hash. Split the difference with the massive, salty-sweet pancake, which is loaded with bacon, cheddar, and chives, and served with sides of maple syrup and honey butter.

518 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102

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Mickey's Diner

36 7th St W (at Saint Peter St), Saint Paul, MN 55102

This beloved downtown St. Paul dining car is back in action after a four-year hiatus — pop in for eggs with hash browns, pancakes, or, if you’re feeling feisty, a breakfast burger. Early birds take note: Micky’s isn’t open a full 24 hours like it used to be, but it does fire the grills at 6 a.m. daily.

36 7th St W (at Saint Peter St), Saint Paul, MN 55102

Visit Website

The Buttered Tin

237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

The second its doors opened in St. Paul’s Lowertown, the Buttered Tin became a local breakfast favorite. Here, old-school breakfast favorites are given new life: Try a Benedict made with Lake Superior walleye, hot honey apple French Toast, or a smothered breakfast burrito. The Buttered Tin also serves boozy breakfast drinks.

237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101

Visit Website

A restaurant’s interior with white walls, a counter to the left, and diners seated at tables to the right. — Inside the Buttered Tin.

Keys Cafe & Bakery

767 Raymond Ave (btwn University Ave & Territorial Rd), Saint Paul, MN 55114

If you get one thing off of Keys’ classic diner-style breakfast menu, make it the chocolate chip banana pancakes. These cakes have the slightest hint of sugar in the batter, which allows the mellow sweetness of the banana slices to shine through — not to mention the chocolate chips, which take on delicious, toffee-like char when they hit the griddle. The omelets, hashes, and pie are also great breakfast bets.

767 Raymond Ave (btwn University Ave & Territorial Rd), Saint Paul, MN 55114

Visit Website

Two large pancakes topped with butter on a white plate. — Keys’ pancakes are BIG.

Colossal Cafe

2315 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55108

Colossal Cafe serves giant caramel rolls, crumbly biscuits, and yeast-based pancakes that rise to impressive heights. Try the simple short stack with maple syrup, or the signature topping of honey-brown sugar syrup, apples, walnuts, and slices of brie cheese. Other classics like omelets, frittatas, and breakfast sandwiches are available as well.

2315 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55108

Visit Website

Cafe Racer Kitchen

2929 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Cafe Racer’s arepas — subtly sweet and soft on the inside, fried golden on the outside — are at the heart of this pared-down Latin American menu. For breakfast, they’re served with marmalade or kielbasa, or as a side to an omelet topped with bright salsa criolla and pico.

2929 E 25th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Visit Website

Maria's Cafe

1113 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Maria’s Cafe, a beloved fixture of Minneapolis’s Seward neighborhood, pairs American breakfast fare with Columbian dishes like arepas rellenas, calentao con huevos, and paisa bowls (layered with beef, Colombian chorizo, and chicharron). Maria’s serves every pancake you could dream of, from chocolate chip to plantain, but the most famous are the chachapas Venezolanas, or corn pancakes, which are crispy around the edges, dusted with cotija cheese, and studded with sunshine-yellow kernels of corn.

1113 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

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Corn pancakes dusted with cotija cheese on a white plate. — Corn pancakes from Maria’s.

Band Box Diner

729 S 10th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Band Box Diner — the iconic, cherry red diner diner at the corner of 10th and 14th streets in Minneapolis’s Elliot Park neighborhood — closed during the early days of the pandemic, but reopened in 2023 with the same menu of buttermilk pancakes, omelets, butter-slathered English, and other delectable greasy spoon fare.

729 S 10th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Visit Website

Hard Times Cafe

1821 Riverside Ave (at Cedar Ave), Minneapolis, MN 55454

Since 1992, this punk cafe — known for its hand-painted, bright green façade on Riverside Avenue — has been a classic haunt for vegan and vegetarian bites. Breakfast classics include the vegan helter skelter with hash browns and tofu, vegan biscuits with mushroom gravy, and the vegan “big fat pancake” with maple syrup.

1821 Riverside Ave (at Cedar Ave), Minneapolis, MN 55454

Visit Website

Nicollet Diner

1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Nicollet Diner is the Twin Cities’ quintessential 24-hour breakfast spot. Swing by at any hour of the day for exceptionally fluffy buttermilk pancakes, chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, or poutine, best paired with a creamy malt. Cocktails are poured until 2 a.m. daily.

1333 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Al's Breakfast

413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Known affectionately as Minneapolis’s narrowest restaurant, Al’s Breakfast, which opened in 1950, is nestled into a 10-food-wide storefront in Dinkytown. The cook might sing to the radio while he’s dolloping sour cream and strawberries on hot waffles; strangers rub elbows, literally, as they tuck into salami scrambles. In a parallel universe, Al’s could have become a tourist trap — but in this one, it’s an enduring, beloved staple of Minnesota’s diner scene.

413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

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A black and white photo of a man in a white apron standing behind the counter at Al’s breakfast. The heads and shoulders of two people are visible in the foreground. — Al’s Breakfast in Dinkytown.

Rise Bagel Co.

530 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Set in the heart of the North Loop neighborhood, Rise combines an old-fashioned approach to bagel making with organic ingredients. Grab a rosemary bagel with scallion cream cheese, or try something a little more adventurous, like the Artisan, which is loaded with bacon, havarti, rosemary Butter, and apple mustard. Rise has great vegan smears, too.

530 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

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Bagels in a box with a side dish of cream cheese. — A schmear box from Rise Bagel.

Sammy’s Avenue Eatery

1101 W Broadway #1, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Sammy’s Avenue Eatery is known for its turkey clubs and ham melts, but don’t overlook the breakfast sandwich menu. Egg and cheese sandwiches, with a choice of pastrami, turkey, bacon, or chicken, all clock in around $6 or so.

1101 W Broadway #1, Minneapolis, MN 55411

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Ideal Diner

1314 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Ideal Diner, a tiny, sunshine-yellow diner on Central Avenue, has served Northeast Minneapolis since 1949. Today, it’s one of the few spots in the Cities you can get a cup of coffee for $1.75. Breakfast dishes are served all day — the Polish Man breakfast, a combo of eggs, Polish sausage, and hash browns, nods to the neighborhood’s Eastern European immigrant roots. The buttermilk short stacks are served with a generous dollop of butter.

1314 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

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ViV!R

1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Mexican cafe and bakery Vivir’s morning menu features chilaquiles verde, breakfast tacos, avocado tostadas, and more. To end breakfast on a sweet note, save room for chocolate mole cupcakes or a guava roll.

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1414 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

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A breakfast sandwich with a gooey egg yolk on a bun is front and center, with an orange cocktail with a frothy top, and a white bowl of crispy potatoes in the background. — A breakfast sandwich from Vivir.

Marty's Deli

400 NE Lowry Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Marty’s Deli’s breakfast sandwiches, served on airy, golden focaccia, pair a neat egg patty with thick slices of Peterson bacon, a sausage patty, braised greens, or even hash browns. The real clincher is the combination of garlic aioli and sharp American cheese, which meld into one gooey, creamy bite. Get there before noon to grab one, and keep an eye on Instagram for specials.

400 NE Lowry Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55418

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