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A woman cuts a sandwich. — Digging into breakfast.

20 Essential San Diego Breakfast Spots

Fuel up at these morning spots to kickstart your day.

by Helen I. Hwang and Candice Woo Updated Feb 16, 2023, 2:06pm PST

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Digging into breakfast.

| La Clochette Du Coin

by Helen I. Hwang and Candice Woo Updated Feb 16, 2023, 2:06pm PST

When it comes to breakfast, San Diego is stocked with a slew of options to jumpstart your day, from savory egg dishes to sweet pastries and pancakes often inspired by global cuisines. From Oceanside down to Coronado, spanning retro diners to European-style cafes and everything in between, there’s a wide variety of morning-focused restaurants to choose from.

Check out Eater’s guide to San Diego’s 20 essential breakfast places. Did we miss your favorite spot? Leave it in the comments or talk to the tipline.

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Communal Coffee

With locations in North Park, South Park, and Oceanside, customers can find healthy breakfast options at these cafés that are also conducive to working in. Founder Jen Byard offers a wide selection of coffee drinks with beans from Sightglass Coffee, an independent roaster based in San Francisco. The burrata confit tomato toast or shakshuka with spicy tomato sauce and soft-boiled eggs are favorites.

Open in Google Maps

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Egg dish — Egg dish.

Also featured in:

San Diego’s Essential Coffee Shops and Roasters

The Cottage Encinitas

Specializing in SoCal breakfast cuisine for 30 years, the La Jolla institution added an outpost in Encinitas to serve North County residents. Customers can order their famous granola (that ships all over the country), as well as stuffed French toast. A few items exclusive to Encinitas include the leg of lamb sandwich and tofu “huevos” rancheros.

Open in Google Maps

127 N El Camino Real Suite H, Encinitas, CA 92024

Visit Website

Stuffed French toast — Stuffed French toast.

Pipes Cafe

There’s nothing better to cap off a surf session than a hearty breakfast of sizzling eggs and Pipes’ potatoes from this iconic North County cafe. This laid-back, surf-themed restaurant also caters to those just looking for a coffee from their full-service expresso bar. Pipes’ egg burritos and cheeseburgers are also super popular.

Open in Google Maps

123 Liverpool Dr, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007

Visit Website

Seaside scramble with eggs, cheese, avocado, and sausages accompanied by Pipe’s potatoes — Seaside scramble with eggs, cheese, avocado, and sausages accompanied by Pipe’s potatoes.

Claire's on Cedros

A breakfast destination in Solana Beach for many years, the charming cottage features bread and pastries from local purveyors on a menu highlighted by favorites like the caprese frittata, seared salmon eggs Benedict, and blackberry-stuffed French toast. If the line is a little long, stop into Claire’s Too, the adjacent coffee shop that stocks baked goods as well as grab-and-go breakfast items.

Open in Google Maps

246 N Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Claire’s On Cedros (@clairesoncedrossb)

Gold Finch Modern Delicatessen

This modern Jewish delicatessen showcases Ashkenazi and Sephardic-style cooking. The latest offering from Tracy Borkum of Urban Kitchen Group (CUCINA Urbana and Artifact at the Mingei Museum) features favorites like the loaded giant latke, tom challah French toast, or the flavorful matzo ball soup based on Borkum’s grandmother’s recipe.

Open in Google Maps

3040 Science Park Rd, San Diego, CA 92121

Visit Website

Loaded giant latke — Loaded giant latke.

Also featured in:

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Harry's Coffee Shop

This nostalgic diner is La Jolla’s oldest family-owned restaurant, started by Harry S. Rudolph in 1960. He moved out from his native Brooklyn to follow the Dodgers to California and missed New York diners. Nowadays, Harry’s is still run by the third generation of his family, catering to regulars who’ve been coming for decades. The famous B.W. Benny is a favorite with a thin waffle embedded with bacon morsels, topped with more bacon, ham, and two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce. Try it with the horchata, made in-house daily.

Open in Google Maps

7545 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

B.W. Benny - waffle with bacon morsels, topped with bacon, ham, and two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce — B.W. Benny - waffle with bacon morsels, topped with bacon, ham, and two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce.

Wayfarer Bread & Pastry

This Bird Rock destination bakery, run by Crystal White (Tartine Bakery in San Francisco), focuses on small batches of artisan bread and pastries. Working with ingredients from Chino Farms and other local purveyors, the menu changes regularly with the season. Almond croissants and cherry chocolate chip scones are must-tries.

Open in Google Maps

5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

Also featured in:

La Clochette Du Coin

Building on the Pacific Beach cafe’s house-baked goods from Hommage Bakehouse and its European-influenced menu of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, and egg Benedicts are all-day brunch items that range from coconut crab curry with Israeli couscous, and a duck confit tartine to Jidori chicken wings with a bacon and cream cheese-filled waffle.

Open in Google Maps

4680 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

Croissant eggs Benedict.

Also featured in:

The Hen House

Specializing in all-day brunch and bubbles in the Crown Point neighborhood of Pacific Beach, this spot is doing luxe versions of the classics like eggs Benedict with butter-poached lobster, wagyu loco moco, and sliders topped with fried quail eggs.

Open in Google Maps

3801 Ingraham St, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Hen House (@thehenhousesd)

Also featured in:

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Madi

Branching out from Madison on Park, Madi is its sister restaurant in Normal Heights with an emphasis on California-Mediterranean brunch every day of the week. Share items include waffle churro sticks. Try the chilaquiles verdes or blackberry goat cheese pancakes from a 60-year-old pancake recipe. Don’t forget to pair with the orange pineapple kale mimosa for a boozy vitamin kick.

Open in Google Maps

3737 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

Visit Website

Waffle churro sticks with jalapeno-blackberry sauce and maple cream cheese — Waffle churro sticks with jalapeno-blackberry sauce and maple cream cheese.

Also featured in:

17 Spots for Virtuous Cuisine and Healthy Eats in San Diego

Farmer's Bottega

Tucked in Mission Hills is a farm-to-fork restaurant with a rustic farmhouse feel. Owner Alberto Morreale (Portobello) serves classics like egg Benedicts but with a seasonal twist like a Baja-style version with Mexican white shrimp.

Open in Google Maps

860 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Nomad Donuts

This North Park staple puts uber-creative twists on its award-winning, hand-crafted doughnuts, which include vegan alternatives; the caramel popcorn and ube taro coconut flavors are a couple of favorites. Its wood-fired Montreal-style bagels can be enjoyed on their own or as a sandwich; highlights from a recent menu update include the Buenas Dias, a housemade chicken chorizo patty with a fried egg, melted cheese, and avocado salsa and the Island Boy, a chicharron-crusted slice of Taylor ham topped with a runny egg and napa cabbage-scallion slaw with caramelized soy & chili oil.

3102 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Breakfast Republic

With a devotion to honoring the diversity of breakfast, this ever-expanding chain offers twists on French toast, eggs, and grits. Favorites include Mr. Presley (peanut-butter-stuffed French toast with bananas foster and bacon) and shrimp and grits. Pair your breakfast with a guava mimosa fueled with DOC prosecco from its partner Italian vineyard.

2730 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Mr. Presley - peanut-butter-stuffed French toast with bananas foster and bacon — Mr. Presley - peanut-butter-stuffed French toast with bananas foster and bacon.

Also featured in:

Hash House a Go Go

This Hillcrest brunch spot is famous for its generous portions and creative combinations. The towering Andry’s World-Famous Sage Fried Chicken that customers can order atop a stack of waffles or eggs Benedict is crowned with a protruding herb stalk. The BLT Bloody Mary is a tall glass of Bloody Mary with heirloom tomato, lettuce, and crispy bacon, surrounded by white toast, so you can make your own alcohol-infused BLT.

3628 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

BLT Bloody Mary — BLT Bloody Mary.

Also featured in:

10 Break Out Breakfast Spots That Are Making Mornings Fun Again

Little Lion Cafe

In Point Loma, just outside Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, is a cozy cottage that houses a tiny breakfast restaurant that looks like it could be straight out of your European nana’s kitchen. Run by a trio of sisters who come from the legendary culinary family behind the Belgian Lion, the cafe charmer serves salmon mousse toast and brunch tacos with soyrizo and sweet potatoes.

Open in Google Maps

1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107

Visit Website

Salmon mousse toast — Salmon mousse toast.

Also featured in:

Where to Eat in San Diego on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Morning Glory

This brunch restaurant and cocktail bar boasts steady lines and jaw-dropping decor designed for selfies. Here, avocado toast is called “millennial tears” under the Carbs with Culture section. Also on offer is an accomplished French-style omelet and luxe soft scrambled eggs topped with caviar.

Open in Google Maps

550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Cafe 222

Veteran restaurateur Terryl Gavre is the creative vision behind this foundational breakfast spot in the Marina District. The peanut butter and banana-stuffed French toast is a popular choice, or try the famous pumpkin waffles or 5-grain waffles stuffed with the café’s granola.

222 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Tartine

The locally-owned European-style café has been a neighborhood favorite on Crown Island since 2001. Bakers start at 4 a.m. to bake scones, croissants, and cinnamon rolls. Try their billowy ham and gruyere cheese quiches, served bistro-style with a small salad.

Open in Google Maps

1106 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118

Visit Website

Ham and gruyere cheese quiche — Ham and gruyere cheese quiche.

Also featured in:

Clayton's Coffee Shop

A Coronado staple since 1938, the retro classic American diner includes classic favorites like hot cakes. Owner Mary Frese, a native Tennessean, has added Southern favorites like biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles, bringing in raw ingredients from her native state. Pair with Clayton’s classic fresh strawberry shake.

Open in Google Maps

979 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clayton's Coffee Shop (@claytonscoffeeshop)

Also featured in:

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Talavera Azul

The Curiel family, which owns this Chula Vista standout, also operates one of Tijuana’s beloved breakfast spots, La Espadaña. There are standard American breakfast options available but better bets are the best-selling chilaquiles, available in a variety of salsas, or machaca with eggs paired with a steaming mug of café de olla.

365 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Communal Coffee

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

With locations in North Park, South Park, and Oceanside, customers can find healthy breakfast options at these cafés that are also conducive to working in. Founder Jen Byard offers a wide selection of coffee drinks with beans from Sightglass Coffee, an independent roaster based in San Francisco. The burrata confit tomato toast or shakshuka with spicy tomato sauce and soft-boiled eggs are favorites.

Open in Google Maps

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Egg dish — Egg dish.

The Cottage Encinitas

127 N El Camino Real Suite H, Encinitas, CA 92024

Specializing in SoCal breakfast cuisine for 30 years, the La Jolla institution added an outpost in Encinitas to serve North County residents. Customers can order their famous granola (that ships all over the country), as well as stuffed French toast. A few items exclusive to Encinitas include the leg of lamb sandwich and tofu “huevos” rancheros.

Open in Google Maps

127 N El Camino Real Suite H, Encinitas, CA 92024

Visit Website

Stuffed French toast — Stuffed French toast.

Pipes Cafe

123 Liverpool Dr, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007

There’s nothing better to cap off a surf session than a hearty breakfast of sizzling eggs and Pipes’ potatoes from this iconic North County cafe. This laid-back, surf-themed restaurant also caters to those just looking for a coffee from their full-service expresso bar. Pipes’ egg burritos and cheeseburgers are also super popular.

Open in Google Maps

123 Liverpool Dr, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007

Visit Website

Seaside scramble with eggs, cheese, avocado, and sausages accompanied by Pipe’s potatoes — Seaside scramble with eggs, cheese, avocado, and sausages accompanied by Pipe’s potatoes.

Claire's on Cedros

246 N Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075

A breakfast destination in Solana Beach for many years, the charming cottage features bread and pastries from local purveyors on a menu highlighted by favorites like the caprese frittata, seared salmon eggs Benedict, and blackberry-stuffed French toast. If the line is a little long, stop into Claire’s Too, the adjacent coffee shop that stocks baked goods as well as grab-and-go breakfast items.

Open in Google Maps

246 N Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Claire’s On Cedros (@clairesoncedrossb)

Gold Finch Modern Delicatessen

3040 Science Park Rd, San Diego, CA 92121

This modern Jewish delicatessen showcases Ashkenazi and Sephardic-style cooking. The latest offering from Tracy Borkum of Urban Kitchen Group (CUCINA Urbana and Artifact at the Mingei Museum) features favorites like the loaded giant latke, tom challah French toast, or the flavorful matzo ball soup based on Borkum’s grandmother’s recipe.

Open in Google Maps

3040 Science Park Rd, San Diego, CA 92121

Visit Website

Loaded giant latke — Loaded giant latke.

Harry's Coffee Shop

7545 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

This nostalgic diner is La Jolla’s oldest family-owned restaurant, started by Harry S. Rudolph in 1960. He moved out from his native Brooklyn to follow the Dodgers to California and missed New York diners. Nowadays, Harry’s is still run by the third generation of his family, catering to regulars who’ve been coming for decades. The famous B.W. Benny is a favorite with a thin waffle embedded with bacon morsels, topped with more bacon, ham, and two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce. Try it with the horchata, made in-house daily.

Open in Google Maps

7545 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

B.W. Benny - waffle with bacon morsels, topped with bacon, ham, and two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce — B.W. Benny - waffle with bacon morsels, topped with bacon, ham, and two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce.

Wayfarer Bread & Pastry

5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

This Bird Rock destination bakery, run by Crystal White (Tartine Bakery in San Francisco), focuses on small batches of artisan bread and pastries. Working with ingredients from Chino Farms and other local purveyors, the menu changes regularly with the season. Almond croissants and cherry chocolate chip scones are must-tries.

Open in Google Maps

5525 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

La Clochette Du Coin

4680 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109

Building on the Pacific Beach cafe’s house-baked goods from Hommage Bakehouse and its European-influenced menu of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, and egg Benedicts are all-day brunch items that range from coconut crab curry with Israeli couscous, and a duck confit tartine to Jidori chicken wings with a bacon and cream cheese-filled waffle.

Open in Google Maps

4680 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

Croissant eggs Benedict.

The Hen House

3801 Ingraham St, San Diego, CA 92109

Specializing in all-day brunch and bubbles in the Crown Point neighborhood of Pacific Beach, this spot is doing luxe versions of the classics like eggs Benedict with butter-poached lobster, wagyu loco moco, and sliders topped with fried quail eggs.

Open in Google Maps

3801 Ingraham St, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Hen House (@thehenhousesd)

Madi

3737 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

Branching out from Madison on Park, Madi is its sister restaurant in Normal Heights with an emphasis on California-Mediterranean brunch every day of the week. Share items include waffle churro sticks. Try the chilaquiles verdes or blackberry goat cheese pancakes from a 60-year-old pancake recipe. Don’t forget to pair with the orange pineapple kale mimosa for a boozy vitamin kick.

Open in Google Maps

3737 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116

Visit Website

Waffle churro sticks with jalapeno-blackberry sauce and maple cream cheese — Waffle churro sticks with jalapeno-blackberry sauce and maple cream cheese.

Farmer's Bottega

860 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103

Tucked in Mission Hills is a farm-to-fork restaurant with a rustic farmhouse feel. Owner Alberto Morreale (Portobello) serves classics like egg Benedicts but with a seasonal twist like a Baja-style version with Mexican white shrimp.

Open in Google Maps

860 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Nomad Donuts

3102 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

This North Park staple puts uber-creative twists on its award-winning, hand-crafted doughnuts, which include vegan alternatives; the caramel popcorn and ube taro coconut flavors are a couple of favorites. Its wood-fired Montreal-style bagels can be enjoyed on their own or as a sandwich; highlights from a recent menu update include the Buenas Dias, a housemade chicken chorizo patty with a fried egg, melted cheese, and avocado salsa and the Island Boy, a chicharron-crusted slice of Taylor ham topped with a runny egg and napa cabbage-scallion slaw with caramelized soy & chili oil.

3102 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Breakfast Republic

2730 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

With a devotion to honoring the diversity of breakfast, this ever-expanding chain offers twists on French toast, eggs, and grits. Favorites include Mr. Presley (peanut-butter-stuffed French toast with bananas foster and bacon) and shrimp and grits. Pair your breakfast with a guava mimosa fueled with DOC prosecco from its partner Italian vineyard.

2730 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Mr. Presley - peanut-butter-stuffed French toast with bananas foster and bacon — Mr. Presley - peanut-butter-stuffed French toast with bananas foster and bacon.

Hash House a Go Go

3628 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

This Hillcrest brunch spot is famous for its generous portions and creative combinations. The towering Andry’s World-Famous Sage Fried Chicken that customers can order atop a stack of waffles or eggs Benedict is crowned with a protruding herb stalk. The BLT Bloody Mary is a tall glass of Bloody Mary with heirloom tomato, lettuce, and crispy bacon, surrounded by white toast, so you can make your own alcohol-infused BLT.

3628 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

BLT Bloody Mary — BLT Bloody Mary.

Little Lion Cafe

1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107

In Point Loma, just outside Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, is a cozy cottage that houses a tiny breakfast restaurant that looks like it could be straight out of your European nana’s kitchen. Run by a trio of sisters who come from the legendary culinary family behind the Belgian Lion, the cafe charmer serves salmon mousse toast and brunch tacos with soyrizo and sweet potatoes.

Open in Google Maps

1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107

Visit Website

Salmon mousse toast — Salmon mousse toast.

Related Maps

Morning Glory

550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

This brunch restaurant and cocktail bar boasts steady lines and jaw-dropping decor designed for selfies. Here, avocado toast is called “millennial tears” under the Carbs with Culture section. Also on offer is an accomplished French-style omelet and luxe soft scrambled eggs topped with caviar.

Open in Google Maps

550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Cafe 222

222 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Veteran restaurateur Terryl Gavre is the creative vision behind this foundational breakfast spot in the Marina District. The peanut butter and banana-stuffed French toast is a popular choice, or try the famous pumpkin waffles or 5-grain waffles stuffed with the café’s granola.

222 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Tartine

1106 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118

The locally-owned European-style café has been a neighborhood favorite on Crown Island since 2001. Bakers start at 4 a.m. to bake scones, croissants, and cinnamon rolls. Try their billowy ham and gruyere cheese quiches, served bistro-style with a small salad.

Open in Google Maps

1106 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118

Visit Website

Ham and gruyere cheese quiche — Ham and gruyere cheese quiche.

Clayton's Coffee Shop

979 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118

A Coronado staple since 1938, the retro classic American diner includes classic favorites like hot cakes. Owner Mary Frese, a native Tennessean, has added Southern favorites like biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles, bringing in raw ingredients from her native state. Pair with Clayton’s classic fresh strawberry shake.

Open in Google Maps

979 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clayton's Coffee Shop (@claytonscoffeeshop)

Talavera Azul

365 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910

The Curiel family, which owns this Chula Vista standout, also operates one of Tijuana’s beloved breakfast spots, La Espadaña. There are standard American breakfast options available but better bets are the best-selling chilaquiles, available in a variety of salsas, or machaca with eggs paired with a steaming mug of café de olla.

365 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910

Visit Website

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