Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Buffalo area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Buffalo 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 Buffalo for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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!
#25. Original Pancake House
- Rating: 2.9/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3019 Union Road Orchard Park, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Waffles, American
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Olympic Family Restaurant
- Rating: 3.3/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4611 Genesee St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Olympic Family Restaurant
- Rating: 3.4/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1601 Military Road Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch, Greek
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Original Pancake House
- Rating: 3.4/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2075 Niagara Falls Blvd. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Lake Effect Diner
- Rating: 3.4/5 (485 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3165 Main St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. SPoT Coffee
- Rating: 3.4/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 227 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Athens Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2801 Harlem Road Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Greek, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#18. SPoT Coffee
- Rating: 3.6/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 765 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Original Pancake House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5479 Main St. Williamsville, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Helen's Kitchen
- Rating: 3.7/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4187 Transit Road Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Spot Coffee
- Rating: 3.7/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 Delaware Road Kenmore, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Patina 250
- Rating: 3.7/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 250 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Jim's Family Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2125 Walden Ave. Cheektowaga, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Kostas Family Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1561 Hertel Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Greek, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Nick's Place
- Rating: 4.1/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 504 Amherst St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Union Family Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1747 Union Road West Seneca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Unbridled Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (80 reviews)
- Address: 9380 Transit Road East Amherst, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Campfire Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (509 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3003 Walden Ave. Depew, New York
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Donut Kraze
- Rating: 4.4/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 406 Dingens St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Donuts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Tipico Coffee & Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 1084 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Penny's Coffee Shop
- Rating: 4.4/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 916 Main St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Sophia's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (852 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 715 Military Road Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Swan Street Diner
- Rating: 4.5/5 (356 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 700 Swan St. Buffalo, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Poked Yolk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3100 Transit Road West Seneca, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Coffee And Stone Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 54 Webster St. North Tonawanda, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- 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.
