
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Portland, Maine area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Portland, Maine 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 Portland for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Portland 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 Portland 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!
#29. The Great American Bagel
- Rating: 2.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1001 Westbrook St. Portland International Jetport Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bagels, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Chick-fil-A
- Rating: 2.8/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 94 Rock Row Westbrook, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Stacks Pancake
- Rating: 3.0/5 (70 reviews)
- Address: 139 Riverside St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Bernie's Foreside
- Rating: 3.2/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 204 US Rt 1 Falmouth, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, American
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Brea Lu
- Rating: 3.2/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 511 Main St. Westbrook, Maine
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#24. The Works Bakery Cafe
- Rating: 3.3/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 15 Temple St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Cafes, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Aroma Joe's
- Rating: 3.4/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 519 Warren Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Mister Bagel Mall
- Rating: 3.4/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 220 Maine Mall Road South Portland, Maine
- Categories: Delis, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Roots Cafe Maine
- Rating: 3.6/5 (93 reviews)
- Address: 20 School St. Westbrook, Maine
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Peaks Cafe
- Rating: 3.6/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 50 Island Ave. Peaks Island, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Porthole Restaurant & Pub
- Rating: 3.6/5 (773 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 20 Custom House Wharf Portland, Maine
- Categories: Diners, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Portland Regency Hotel & Spa
- Rating: 3.7/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 20 Milk St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Hotels, Day Spas, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Q Street Diner
- Rating: 3.8/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9 Q St. South Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Forage Market
- Rating: 3.9/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 123 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Miss Portland Diner
- Rating: 4.0/5 (270 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 140 Marginal Way Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Comfort Food, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Union Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (351 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 390 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Becky's Diner
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1496 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 390 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Lenora
- Rating: 4.2/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 2 Portland Sq Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Big Sky Bread Company
- Rating: 4.2/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 536 Deering Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Aroma Joe's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 633 Main St. South Portland, Maine
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Marcy's Diner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (664 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 47 Oak St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Diners, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Ugly Duckling
- Rating: 4.4/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 246 Danforth St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#7. HiFi Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (275 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 30 City Center Portland, Maine
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Tally's Kitchen at Bayside
- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 84 Marginal Way Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Crooked Mile
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 428 Brighton Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Nezinscot Farm Cafe & Gourmet Food Shop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 284 Turner Center Road Turner, Maine
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, CSA, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Dara Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 371 Tuttle Road Cumberland, Maine
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Salt Yard Cafe & Bar
- Rating: 4.6/5 (76 reviews)
- Address: 285 Commercial St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Coffee ME Up
- Rating: 4.7/5 (288 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 221 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- 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.