Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Norfolk area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Norfolk 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 Norfolk for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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!
#23. Jesse's Place
- Rating: 3.4/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2314 Ingleside Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Bel Aire Pancake House
- Rating: 3.6/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1613 East Little Creek Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Pops Diner
- Rating: 3.7/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1432 Greenbrier Pkwy Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Diners, American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Yoolks On Us Southern Bistro
- Rating: 3.8/5 (346 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 515 Washington St. Portsmouth, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Anchor Allie's
- Rating: 3.9/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 357 Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Bars, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Pancakes N Things
- Rating: 3.9/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4408 Indian River Road Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Pancakes
- Read more on Yelp
#17. NY Bagel Cafe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (242 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4512 Princess Anne Road Ste 203 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Kolache Factory
- Rating: 4.0/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 460 South Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Pop's Diner
- Rating: 4.2/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5720 Northampton Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Hometown Diner
- Rating: 4.2/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3562 Western Branch Blvd. Portsmouth, Virginia
- Categories: American, Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Coffee Shoppe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 300 High St. Portsmouth, Virginia
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Classic Diner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1021 Providence Sq Shopping Center Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#11. O's Donuts
- Rating: 4.3/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 222 West 21st St. Unit North Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Little Dog Diner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (299 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1917 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Brick House Diner
- Rating: 4.3/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 941 Providence Square Shopping Center Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Stockpot Norfolk
- Rating: 4.3/5 (297 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 215 East Plume St. Ste 100 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Soup, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Yorgo's Bageldashery
- Rating: 4.3/5 (567 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2123 Colonial Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Sandfiddler Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (376 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9561 Shore Drive Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#5. aLatté Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 321 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Karla's Beach House
- Rating: 4.4/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3248 East Ocean View Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Egg Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (278 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1033 Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Oceanview Diner
- Rating: 4.6/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9619 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Toastique
- Rating: 4.6/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 535 Belaire Ave. Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Breakfast & Brunch, Acai Bowls
- 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.
