Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the San Diego area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the San Diego area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near San Diego for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the San Diego area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of San Diego were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#30. Honey Haven
- Rating: 4.4/5 (105 reviews)
- Address: 7287 Navajo Road San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#29. The Cliffs Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (362 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Ste D San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Earlybird Breakfast Burritos
- Rating: 4.4/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4505 Mission Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Kono's Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (2208 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 704 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Maggie's Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1382 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3232 Greyling Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Broken Yolk Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1714 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8111 Mira Mesa Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Acai Bowls
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Carnivore Sandwich
- Rating: 4.4/5 (503 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 670 West B St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Coffeentalk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (417 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1143 6th Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee Roasteries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#22. The Art of Espresso
- Rating: 4.5/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Sunnyboy Biscuit Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (682 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3749 Park Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Santos Coffee House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3191 Thorn St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Public Square
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1098 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8278 La Mesa Blvd. La Mesa, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Plaza Deli
- Rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 401 B St. Floor 3 San Diego, California
- Categories: Delis, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Rose Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5201 Linda Vista Road Ste 100 San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Kim's Deli
- Rating: 4.6/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8515 Arjons Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: Delis, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Cafe Vahik
- Rating: 4.6/5 (652 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6780 La Jolla Blvd. La Jolla, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Local Krave
- Rating: 4.6/5 (615 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3233 Kemper St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Kuma cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (296 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1050 Columbia St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Barrio Donas
- Rating: 4.6/5 (535 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4714 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Benedict's
- Rating: 4.6/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5142 West Point Loma Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Dos Palmas Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (296 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3562 Adams Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Swami's Café Downtown
- Rating: 4.6/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 611 B St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Acai Bowls
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Chiroy's Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (150 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 914 East 8th St. Unit 202 National City, California
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. The French Oven
- Rating: 4.6/5 (538 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10299 Scripps Trail Ste East San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Chiefy Cafe - Gaslamp
- Rating: 4.6/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 777 Sixth Ave. Ste 105 San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Acai Bowls, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Jaunt Coffee Roasters
- Rating: 4.7/5 (701 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8680 Miralani Drive Ste 131 San Diego, California
- Categories: Coffee Roasteries, Empanadas, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Jane's Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (225 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 591 Camino De La Reina Ste 130 San Diego, California
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Drift Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (218 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4652 Mission Blvd. Pacific Beach, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Konito's Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1730 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Armonía Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1422 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.
