Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Raleigh area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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!
#21. State Farmers Market Restaurant
- Rating: 3.9/5 (475 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1240 Farmers Market Drive Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#20. The Flying Biscuit Cafe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (1062 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2016 Clark Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Southern, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Brigs Great Beginnings
- Rating: 3.9/5 (231 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8111 Creedmoor Road Ste 169 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Birdie's Barroom and Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 150 Fayetteville St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Watkins Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1625 Wake Forest Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Idle Hour Coffee
- Rating: 4.1/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1818 Oberlin Road Ste 103 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Sir Walter Coffee
- Rating: 4.1/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 145 East Davie St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Sean's Shack
- Rating: 4.1/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2840 East Millbrook Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#13. NYC Bagels
- Rating: 4.1/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 263 Grande Heights Drive Cary, North Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken
- Rating: 4.1/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 530 Daniels St. - Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Pam's Farm House
- Rating: 4.2/5 (230 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5111 Western Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#10. New World Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5900 Duraleigh Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Morning Times
- Rating: 4.2/5 (665 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10 East Hargett St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Big Ed's City Market Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (694 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 220 Wolfe St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Comfort Food, Soul Food
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Chanticleer Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.3/5 (282 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6490 Tryon Road Cary, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Herons
- Rating: 4.3/5 (297 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 100 Woodland Pond Drive Cary, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Sola Coffee Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (639 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7705 Lead Mine Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Jubala Coffee
- Rating: 4.3/5 (603 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8450 Honeycutt Road Ste 104 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Morning Rolls
- Rating: 4.5/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1322 East Millbrook Road Ste A Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#2. PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails
- Rating: 4.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 Hillsborough St. Ste 108 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Angie's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.7/5 (419 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1340 West Garner Road Garner, North Carolina
- Categories: 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.
