Rise and shine at these weekday breakfast joints in Toronto
There’s no need to wait till Sunday to enjoy your favourite brunch dishes. Toronto is home to plenty of weekday breakfast joints where you’ll find savoury eggs Benedict, inventive Huevos Rancheros and melt-in-your-mouth French toast. Start your morning off right at these local breakfast spots.
Lady Marmalade Restaurant
265 Broadview Ave, Main, Toronto, ON M4M 2G8Build your own benny any day of the week at this sunny Leslieville café. Bennies can be customized with unique toppings — like pesto, Yucatán pulled pork or brie — and are drizzled with a creamy lemony hollandaise sauce. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try the baked bread pudding, fresh fruit crepe or check out the chalkboard menu for daily specials.
Figs Breakfast & Lunch
4-344 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1S8Corktown locals rave about this family-run café at Queen and Parliament where you’ll find an extensive all-day breakfast menu that ranges from lighter fare to large platters. The salmon and avocado breakfast is a refreshing alternative to the classic bacon and eggs. For something a little different, try the potato latkes served with eggs, bacon, sour cream and apple.
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1V9The early-morning weekend crowds at this Dundas West brunch hotspot can be unbearable (especially when your stomach is growling) but the wait time isn’t so bad during the week. If you’re lucky enough to snag a seat, start with a creamy Vietnamese iced coffee made with sweetened condensed milk and then browse through the chalkboard mounted on the wall to see the sweet and savoury specials. You’ll forgive the long lineup once you try the French toast with caramelized bananas.
E Easy Restaurant
1645 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A9Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with it. The menu at this popular Parkdale diner is littered with novelty nicknames for your favourite breakfast classics. Order up the Easy Rider, Toast Soldiers or the house specialty Huevos Divorciados made with spicy green and red salsa and ancho jam.
Emma's Country Kitchen
810 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M6C 1B6You don’t have to head too far north to sample farmhouse fare thanks to this country-style diner on St. Clair West. The cozy spot attracts plenty of families with its homey decor and welcoming ambiance. Try the namesake Emma’s benny, which features house-cured peameal bacon and poached eggs atop a warm and fluffy buttermilk biscuit. Grab a freshly baked loaf of bread on your way out or check out the freezer section and pick up a soup or savoury meat pie to take home for later.
Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3Start your morning off right at this funky Queen West hotel known for its eclectic décor and hip crowd. Try the classic Drake breakfast plate served with a side of tasty root vegetable hash or the famous house-made blueberry scones. If you’ve got an appetite, you can’t go wrong with the Southern-inspired chicken and waffles, which features fried chicken thighs piled high atop a savoury waffle and slathered in Niagara cherry jam and triple thick crème fraiche.
Frans Restaurant
33 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1G4This old school-style diner serves up all-day breakfast: omelettes, eggs benny, waffles, pancakes and all the fixin's
School Restaurant
70 Fraser Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 3E1Famous for it's weekend brunch, School serves up a menu of brunch classics on the weekday menu too. The options are creative, like cheesy bacon french toast, krispy krunchy french toast and black and blue flapjacks.
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