Everyone loves a good breakfast, but getting out of bed in time to actually eat a quality morning meal at a Cleveland restaurant is more easily said than done. Still, we think these 20 places represent everything good about Cleveland breakfast, and it’s time you made priorities to try them out.

West Side Market Cafe 1979 West 25th St., Cleveland “Amazing burgers and fries, perfectly cooked and fast service also. Place is directly connected to the market so it’s convenient to be able to shop right after,” Jacob Y. on Yelp Photo via West Side Market Cafe/Facebook Credit: Photo via West Side Market Cafe/Facebook
Big Al’s Diner 12600 Larchmere Blvd., (216) 791-8550 If you miss Mom’s cooking, this is the place to get your fix. Breakfast is served until the diner’s late-afternoon closing time. But the corned beef hash is the star of the show — it was featured on the Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” with Michael Symon. Photo via Scene Archives
Slyman’s Restaurant 3106 St. Clair Ave., (216) 621-3760 Yes, Slyman’s is known for their heaping piles of corned beef. But the breakfast is just as good. The egg, cheese and corned beef sandwich is as yummy as it sounds. Photo via Scene Archives
Cleveland Biscuit Heads Roaming Locations Just trust us when we tell you that you have to try one of these biscuit sandwiches from this pop-up breakfast outfit. They change up locations so be sure to check their website for where you can find one of their awesome breakfast sandwiches. The biscuits themselves are worth getting these. Photo via Cleveland Biscuit Heads/Facebook
The Inn On Coventry 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, (216) 371-1811 The Inn has been serving breakfast and lunch to Heights locals since 1981. Comfort food at its finest is the game here. You’d be hard-pressed to find better pancakes in town but you really can’t go wrong with this throwback diner. Really, see if you can find better ones and send us a message if you can. Photo via Scene Archives
Le Petit Triangle 1881 Fulton Ave., (216) 281-1881 A little cramped, occasionally noisy, and quite possibly the city’s smallest restaurant, this tiny French bistro still manages to turn out phenomenal food, especially when it comes to their crepes and other breakfast items. The Nutella french toast is as good as it sounds and they have one of the best shakshuka in town. You’ll be transported to Paris for a couple hours here. Photo via Scene Archives
Lucky’s Cafe 777 Starkweather Ave., (216) 622-7773 Lucky’s Cafe has won Scene’s best of brunch award so many times, we can’t keep count. Chef and Owner Heather Haviland’s Tremont cafe has also been featured on the Food Network multiple times, with Chef Michael Symon calling their biscuits and gravy the “best thing he ever ate,” and also on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Photo via Scene Archives
Addy’s Diner 530 Euclid Ave., Cleveland After 35 years in the breakfast business, the owners of P.J.’s Luncheonette sold their old-timey diner to the owner of the newfangled Jack Flaps. But in this narrative, the space winds up reverting to an un-twee diner after three and a half years. The real winners in this saga are the customers, who get the benefit of a tastefully renovated restaurant space courtesy of the outgoing owner, coupled with the value of a modestly priced, user-friendly menu thanks to the incoming. Breakfast is served all day and includes a full meal of two eggs, bacon, toast and jam for a Lincoln and change. Photo via Addy’s Diner/Facebook
Yours Truly Multiple Locations The quintessential Northeast Ohio diner. It’s been said that if you haven’t had Notso Fries from Yours Truly yet, you’re not really a Clevelander. And for breakfast, they turn the Notso Fries into an omelette. That and the Killit Skillet are all-timers when it comes to local breakfast dishes. Photo via Yours Truly/Facebook
The Place To Be 1391 Warren Rd., Lakewood, (216) 226-8783 Good food, great prices and a family atmosphere is the name of the game at this Lakewood greasy spoon. The menu claims that they have the “best biggest omelettes in town” and who are we to argue? Photo via The Place To Be/Facebook
Scratch Restaurant 6595 Brecksville Rd., Independence, (216) 312-2190 This Independence breakfast and lunch spot boasts one of the best breakfast menus in town. They put a spin on traditional items and they do it well. You can get pulled pork in their omelet and its as good as it sounds and the Tiramisu Pancakes are, well, divine. Photo via Scratch Restaurant/Facebook
Kleifeld’s Restaurant 4048 Erie St., Willoughby, (440) 942-7646 A trip to downtown Willoughby would not be complete with a morning coffee and breakfast stop at Kleifeld’s Restaurant. This throwback diner compliments the old school Erie Street that anchors historic Willoughby. Try the country fried steak and eggs – for $5.49, it’s a steal. Photo via @Kleifelds/Instagram
George’s Kitchen 13101 Trisket Rd., Cleveland Breakfasts here are great, with a number of egg dishes served all day at this iconic Cleveland diner that’s been open for almost 40 years. For something a little more adventurous than your usual breakfast, try the gyro platter, which includes a mountain of golden brown potatoes, sliced gyro meat, three eggs, toast and a side of tzatziki sauce. Photo by Douglas Trattner
Yonder 3859 Superior Ave., Cleveland This Asia Town breakfast spot is built around their awesome breakfast sammies like The Yonder, that comes with bacon, avocado, soft scrambled eggs, chives, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and chipotle mayo and other awesome sandwiches. They also have a whole section on their menu basically devoted to cereal french toast including a Fruity Pebbles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch french toast. Delicious. Credit: Scene Archives
Eat at Joe’s 1475 South Green Rd., (216) 381-3101 With breakfast served all day, with a simple menu of diner staples listed on a table tent, Eat at Joe’s attracts customers from various generations, sandwiched in at the tables or elbow-to-elbow at the counter. Photo via @SallyAccorti/Instagram
Corky and Lenny’s 27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, (216) 464-3838 The iconic Jewish deli, known for their offerings like corned beef, matzoh ball soup and many more wonderful dishes has been going strong in the Eastern Suburbs since 1956. And if you haven’t had their breakfast, featuring Jewish staples like salami and eggs and challah french toast, well, what are you waiting for? Photo via Corky & Lenny’s/Facebook
The Cleveland Bagel Co. 4201 Detroit Ave. and 7501 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland Despite opening less than five years ago, The Cleveland Bagel Co. has already established itself as one of the most iconic food spots in town. Their homemade, creative bagels make for an awesome breakfast, especially when you add their homemade schmears and try their lox or bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
The Root Cafe 15118 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, (216) 226-4401 This mostly vegan cafe is a jack-of-all-trades establishment. They showcase local artists on the wall, they have poetry readings and folk musicians performing, have one of the best vegan menus in town, serve great coffee and have delicious baked goods. And their breakfasts are a standout whether you are an egg-lover or prefer to keep it vegan/vegetarian friendly. Photo via Scene Archives
Jim’s Open Kitchen 33779 Aurora Rd., Solon Jim’s has been serving breakfast to Solon residents for almost 60 years. This cash-only old timey diner is known for their signature dish, the herb nelson – a mixture home fries, ham, sausage, mushrooms, bacon, eggs, onions, tomatoes and peppers all thrown together. Photo via Jim’s Open Kitchen/Facebook
Grumpy’s Cafe 2621 West 14th St., Cleveland If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Grumpy’s is the most important restaurant in town. The Tremont staple, which is nicer than your typical hole-in-the-wall, is a cozier, artsier version of a greasy spoon — warm colors and local art decorate the walls of the two-room affair. Grumpy’s has several omelets and special dishes like the West 14th Special with corned beef hash, two eggs and toast. Photo via Scene Archives
Larder 1455 West 29th St., Cleveland At its heart, Larder, which was recently nominated for a James Beard award, is a Jewish deli, with matzo ball soup, thick pastrami sandwiches, and flaky fruit-filled rugelach. But their weekend brunch offerings are so good that we had to include it here. Photo via @LarderB/Instagram
Jack’s Deli 14490 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights Not even a month’s worth of visits would be enough to do justice to Jack’s giant menu. The matzoh brei – a Jewish staple during Passover – is offered year round and it’s delicious but you really can’t go wrong on this menu. The french toast is awesome too. Photo via Scene Archives
The Blue Door Cafe and Bakery 1970 State Rd., Cuyahoga Falls We try to keep things local and focus on places as close to Cleveland as possible. But this bakery and cafe that’s closer to Akron than Cleveland is so good that we had to include it. The corned beef hash and the smoked salmon and eggs are two standout dishes but you really can’t go wrong with anything there. They also have delectable specials like this Brioche French Toast with fresh peaches and blackberries, framboise syrup, candied pistachios pictured here. Photo via Blue Door Cafe and Bakery/Facebook
Gene’s Place to Dine 3730 Rocky River Dr., Cleveland If pancakes is your breakfast go-to, you must hit up Gene’s in Kamm’s Corner. They’re legit as it gets. Photo via Gene’s Place To Dine/Facebook
The Sleepy Rooster 5120 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls This Chagrin Falls breakfast and lunch diner just opened in January but it’s made quite an impression. Biscuit fans will appreciate the fresh-baked ones served here. They land in dishes like breakfast biscuits, biscuits and gravy, and eggs Benedict. The Sleepy Rooster is one of the only Northeast Ohio restaurants to make and serve goetta, the German breakfast meat made with pork, beef, steel-cut oats, onions and spices. Some breakfast items, like a section of toasts topped with arrangements like avocado and sea salt, chorizo and goat cheese, and smoked salmon, dill cream cheese and onion, are available all day. This place is certainly elevating the breakfast game in town. Photo via The Sleepy Rooster/Facebook
Frank’s Falafel House 1823 West 65th St., Cleveland Frank’s has long been known to have some of the best shawarma in town. But the extensive breakfast list is awesome as well. Try a Middle Eastern breakfast like their spinach feta omelet, gyro meat and eggs or shawarma, cheese and eggs and you won’t be disappointed. Photo via Frank’s Falafel House/Facebook
Cleveland Breakfast Club and Cleveland Vegan Club 13228 Shaker Square, Cleveland In July of 2020, Yours Truly closed its Shaker Square location after 30 years. Fear not, because Akin Affrica of the Angie’s Soul Cafe empire took over the space with two new concepts: Cleveland Breakfast Club and Cleveland Vegan Club. The former focuses on breakfast, brunch and lunch service seven days a week, while the latter is offering vegan food for carryout and delivery only during the evening hours. Photo via Scene Archives
Dinerbar on Clifton 11801 Clifton Blvd., Lakewood Fans of the original Diner on Clifton were sad to see the westside mainstay close in 2016 but two long years later were relieved to see the same owners reopen down the block. The revamped Dinerbar on Clifton offers an all-day breakfast menu starring favorites such as well-made corned beef hash, pancakes, french toast and a whole roster of egg dishes. And, as the name hints, Dinerbar has a bar, so you can add a tasty Bloody Mary or brew to your breakfast order. Photo via Dinerbar on Clifton FB

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