Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Wilmington area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Wilmington 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 Wilmington for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Wilmington 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 Wilmington 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!
#27. Donut Inn
- Rating: 3.6/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 208 Porters Neck Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Long Island Eatery
- Rating: 3.7/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 839 South Kerr Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Boathouse Restaurant
- Rating: 3.8/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6328 Oleander Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Round Bagels and Donuts
- Rating: 3.8/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 890 South Kerr Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Jimbo's
- Rating: 3.8/5 (170 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1529 South College Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Breakfast House
- Rating: 3.9/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2115 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Drift Coffee & Kitchen - Mayfaire
- Rating: 4.0/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 1005 International Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Coastal Bagels
- Rating: 4.0/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 6756 Gordon Road Unit 190 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Ruth's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6790 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Southern, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Blueberry's Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (455 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1900 Eastwood Road Unit 44 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Tapas/Small Plates
- Read more on Yelp
#17. The Original Salt Works
- Rating: 4.1/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6301 Oleander Drive Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Vicious Biscuit
- Rating: 4.1/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1121 Military Cutoff Road Ste A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Belgian
- Read more on Yelp
#15. White Front Breakfast House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1518 Market St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Carolina Girls' Grillin' Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2535 Castle Hayne Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, fast food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Drift Coffee & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.2/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Dungannon Blvd. Ste 170 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mess Hall
- Rating: 4.3/5 (213 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2136 Wrightsville Ave. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Bagel King and Donuts
- Rating: 4.3/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 3228 North College Road Unit A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#10. S&L New York Style Deli
- Rating: 4.3/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2317 South 17th St. Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Delis, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Mr. Bagel Meister
- Rating: 4.4/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 1611 Dusty Miller Lane Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Port City Java
- Rating: 4.4/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5621 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Beverage Store
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Seaside Bagels
- Rating: 4.5/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6400 Carolina Beach Road Ste 14 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Donut Inn
- Rating: 4.5/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1427 Military Cutoff Road Ste 101 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Buen Dia Mexican Breakfast & Lunch
- Rating: 4.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 5512 Castle Hayne Road Castle Hayne, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Drift Cafe - Wrightsville Beach
- Rating: 4.7/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 114 Causeway Drive Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Milner's Cafe & Catering
- Rating: 4.7/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 311 Judges Road Ste 1A Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Broomtail Craft Brewery
- Rating: 4.8/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6404 Amsterdam Way Unit 100 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Breweries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Amanecer Cocina & Cafe
- Rating: 4.8/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 1616 Shipyard Blvd. Ste 20 Wilmington, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, 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.
