Brunch is great at all, but there’s something special about lingering over a nice breakfast on a weekend morning. There are a ton of great Kansas City breakfasts, and we scoured both sides of the state line to find the best morning dishes for the first meal of the day, from sweet pastries and pancake stacks to homestyle biscuits and breakfast sandwiches. Here are the 36 best breakfasts in Kansas City.
Chicken & Waffles at Niecie’s
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Kansas City has no shortage of great chicken and waffles. But if you want the best combination of the two, you’ll find yourself in a booth at Niecie’s, where you’ll find warm service and a full day’s menu (open 5:30 am to 8 pm) prepared with care. Dishes like grilled wings are made to order (accordingly, the menu warns the wait could be forty minutes) and pair well with satisfying sides like candied yams, cornbread dressing and homestyle mac and cheese. The fluffy waffle comes with a scoop of butter, and the fried chicken has a crisp, lightly seasoned batter that allows the bird to soar. —Martin Cizmar
Avocado Toast at Banksia
Multiple locations
To your average American, avocado toast is a food trend that landed from Mars a few years back, displacing butter on nutty natural breads and spurring a heated cultural debate about how millennials spend their money. The dish actually comes from a land down under, where women glow and men plunder, and where friendly, bright, healthy-ish cafe culture has been the norm for some twenty years. After conquering New York in 2018, the Australian cafe trend came to KC thanks to Banksia, where you’ll find an avo toast made from a slab of sourdough that’s lightly smeared with white miso then topped with avocado, sesame seeds, pan-roasted cherry tomatoes and an over-easy egg. Another standout is the pavlova, a crusty meringue topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. —Martin Cizmar
The Franklin at Denver Biscuit Co.
On any given weekend morning, you’ll find scads of brunchers lining up outside the revamped historical ice house building in Westport for bottomless coffee and Denver Biscuit Co.’s renowned layers-high biscuit sandwiches. Try The Franklin: Crunchy fried chicken, crispy bacon, gooey cheddar cheese and a nice soaking of sausage gravy between two fluffy biscuits is just what the doctor ordered for a Chiefs pre-game meal. —Nicole Bradley
The Vermonter at Seven Swans Creperie
You probably think of crepes as delicate, fussy little French pancakes, and you’re right—unless you’re getting them from Seven Swans Creperie. Kate Bryan’s sweet and savory crepes are delicate but substantial, and they definitely aren’t little. Order the Vermonterwith rosemary sausage, white cheddar and caramelized apples. It’s a little bite of autumn in every forkful. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, go for the Campfire with chocolate ganache, homemade graham cracker and toasted local marshmallows. —Natalie Gallagher
Country Omelette at Neighborhood Cafe
Multiple locations
The best thing at Neighborhood Cafe is free. That’d be the cinnamon rolls, which land at your table gratis after you’re seated at this downhome breakfast spot with two locations in downtown Lee’s Summit and Waldo. The second best thing will cost you twelve bucks—that’s this country omelette in the classic diner style, a thin and crispy layer of eggs wrapped tightly around a heaping slurry of sausage, bacon, cheddar and onions, then sopped with the house’s decadent gravy. —Martin Cizmar
Croque Madame at Ça Va
The menu at Ça Va is full of elegant French dishes, and topping our list of favorites is the croque madame. This classic grilled sandwich is filled with comté (a French Alpine cheese) and thin slices of Fantasma’s Finest ham from Paradise Locker Meats and is topped with a sunny Campo Lindo egg. —Natalie Gallagher
Merica at The Shack
Multiple locations
The Shack draws big weekend crowds with its classic diner fare (Denver omelette, corned beef hash) with names that could take an entire meal to explain (see: “Please Dad Don’t Buy That Affliction Shirt” and “Gary’s Drunk Ghost at Laclede”). The Shack chain started in St. Louis, but the three local spots are all in Johnson County (Overland Park and Lenexa), where you’ll find the “Merica” French toast, which gets its patriotic colors from strawberries and blueberries but gets most of its flavor from a decadent mascarpone honey glaze, which we’d buy by the gallon. —Martin Cizmar
Breakfast Burrito at Yoli Tortilleria
It would have been enough if Yoli Tortilleria would have just stuck to the gorgeous, flaky Sonoran flour tortillas and stone-ground corn tortillas they sell out of at their Westside storefront. But Marissa and Mark Gencarelli kicked it up a notch with their breakfast burritos: Stuffed with chorizo from Local Pig, Campo Lindo eggs, potatoes and onion, these babies are big enough to split. Wash ’em down with Yoli’s house-made horchata. —Natalie Gallagher
Down on the Bayou at Ronnie’s
Ronnie’s is a classic American diner with waffles, pancakes, scrambles and various types of Benedict. Ronnie’s gets a little local flair by employing local products, such as the sliced Scimeca’s andouille sausage you’ll find in this omelette, which is served with square-cut hash browns and thick slabs of toast. —Martin Cizmar
Salt Bagel with Smoked Salmon at Meshuggah
Multiple locations
Before they opened Meshuggah, Janna and Pete Linde used to fly to New York and smuggle bagels back to freeze. That’s what the rest of us would have to do if the Lindes hadn’t opened these Midwestern embassies of boiled-then-baked bageldom in Westport and Overland Park. Pete is an engineer by trade, a native New Yorker of Jewish heritage who learned the process of making bagels that have the classic chewy crust (burlap-covered cedar boards are required) for this no-frills operation, which eschews egg sandwiches in favor of NY deli staples like Whitefish Salad. Our favorite combo is the salt bagel with smoked salmon, but your mileage may vary. —Martin Cizmar
Mattie’s Toaster at Mattie’s Foods
Plant-based eating is easy at Mattie’s Foods. Everything in this sunny Brookside shop is vegan—including the incredible Mattie Bon, a cinnamon roll so perfectly gooey and buttery it will make you suspicious. Craving savory? Get the Mattie Toasterfeaturing a lightly spiced house-made sausage patty (or bacon), hashbrowns and cheese sauce tucked between thick slices of Texas-style toast. —Natalie Gallagher
Butterscotch Brioche Cinnamon Roll at Heirloom
Brookside’s Heirloom Bakery is a wonderland of tasty baked goods, but among the cases (or, during the pandemic, the neatly printed paper menus hung by the outdoor ordering window), our favorite is this rich cinnamon roll. Building a cinnamon roll from soft, buttery brioche is almost cheating. Then they take it even further with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and a drizzle of butterscotch syrup. —Martin Cizmar
Biscuits and Gravy at Happy Gillis
Biscuits and gravy are a breakfast menu staple, and there is perhaps no better example of the dish than what you’ll find at Happy Gillis, where monster biscuits are drowned in a lightly spicy gravy made with pork sausage from Broadway Butcher. The menu at this Columbus Park neighborhood favorite rotates frequently, but the B&G are a constant. Get a half or a full order, and don’t forget to top with a fried egg. —Natalie Gallagher
Breakfast Sandwich at M&M Bakery & Delicatessen
M&M stacks some of the best sandwiches in town—we’re looking at you, Hook ’Em Up—and their breakfast sandwich is no exception. Turkey ham, a fried egg (ask for two if you’d like) and melted Swiss and American cheeses are nestled between a freshly baked house bun, which is soft and spongy with just the right amount of sweetness. I was also pleasantly surprised to find a courtesy glazed donut in my to-go sack, which was equally warm and fresh. —Nicole Bradley
Pho at Vietnam Cafe
If you’ve been resisting the cramped, always bustling environs of the Columbus Park Vietnam Cafe during the pandemic, never fear. They’ve quietly multiplied the space with a stylish renovation that took over the space next door, leaving plenty of room for appropriately spaced tables at what remains an extremely popular pho shop. The pho is still our favorite in town, with a rich beef broth they spend days simmering, and can be enjoyed for breakfast starting at 9 am, as is traditional in Southeast Asia. —Martin Cizmar
Million Dollar Bacon at First Watch
Multiple locations
There’s nothing more breakfast-y than bacon, and First Watch takes this to the next level with its Million Dollar Bacon. Pork belly is hardwood smoked and seasoned with cayenne pepper, black pepper and brown sugar. Then it gets the big money treatment: a drizzle of maple syrup that’s caramelized to perfection to make it a sweet and savory treat. This bacon is great with one of First Watch’s giant pancakes or frittatas. —Lauren Underwood
The Standard at Mildred’s
Multiple locations
The Standard at Mildred’s is your straight-up, no-frills, always-hits-the-spot breakfast sandwich. The fluffiness of the steamed eggs contrasted with super-crispy bacon tucked between two slices of your choice of bread (try the jalapeno) is, like the name suggests, pretty standard, but incredibly delicious. The generous slather of pepper Dijon mustard gives it an extra kick. Also try one of the ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies in the pastries case—you won’t regret it. —Nicole Bradley
Mofongo Burger at Blue Caribe Restaurant
It’s cold outside, but inside BlueCaribe, it feels like a little slice of Miami. There’s a cross-section of Cuban, Puerto Rican and Caribbean foods on the menu, like Cuban ropa vieja (a stewy pulled beef with vegetables), amarillitos (fried sweet plantains) and Puerto Rican bacalao guisado (salted cod in a tomato stew with vegetables). Most of these rotate through the buffet. Blue Caribe opens at 7 am Wednesday through Saturday and 8 am on Sunday, so if it’s a cafe con leche and tostada with cheese you’re after—the traditional Cuban breakfast—you’re in luck. Also noteworthy: the mofongo burger, where scoops of mofongo (pickled and fried plantains mashed with salt and garlic) replace buns on a ground beef burger patty with cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato. Make it a proper breakfast by adding a fried egg. —Natalie Gallagher
Coco’s Ricotta Toast at Caffetteria
25 On The Mall, Prairie Village
This must-try breakfast item from Caffetteria is the perfect way to channel your inner millennial. An English muffin is topped with ricotta cheese, lavender-lemon honey syrup and a sprinkle of basil. The highlight of this Instagram-worthy breakfast is definitely the slight tartness of the lemon mixing with the creaminess of the cheese. Pair it with Caffetteria’s overnight oats to make this breakfast feel extra bougie. —Lauren Underwood
Ranch Hand Breakfast Tacos
Multiple locations
Breakfast tacos are Austin’s greatest contribution to American cuisine, and Lonestar export Torchy’s does them well. Torchy’s started as a food truck on South First Street in the capital of the Lonestar State and is now a seven-state chain with two locations in the KC area. The breakfast tacos you’ll get at the Ward Parkway location are just like the ones I sampled back at ye olde truck so many years ago: heaps of meat and eggs accented with well-constructed salsas. The Ranch Hand, with tender marinated beef and a spicy diablo sauce, is the way to go, and even at breakfast you’ll want to get the chips and salsa, which come in a small bucket and disappear faster than a food truck lot in a gentrifying neighborhood. —Martin Cizmar
Quiche Lorraine at Aixois French Bistro
If you’re looking for the lightest, fluffiest, creamiest quiche in town, you’ll find yourself seated at a cozy bistro table inside Aixois, where the windows face the Trolly Track and the music tilts toward college rock of the early noughties. Aixois’ quiche lorraine is served with lightly dressed arugula, a marvel of well-executed elegance that’s perfect with a latte. —Martin Cizmar
Cinnamon Roll at Lamar’s Donuts
Multiple locations
The donuts aren’t necessarily what keep me coming back to LaMar’s weekend after weekend—though I do love me a chocolate Oreo cake donut. The cinnamon rolls, basically donuts themselves, are flat, frisbee-like cinnamon coils roughly the size of your head and coated in a thick glaze of icing. —Nicole Bradley
Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy at Blue Bird Bistro
Nothing warmly fills up every crevice of your stomach like a pile of biscuits and gravy. All-natural Westside diner Blue Bird Bistro has a great brunch, and their version of the humble dish uses mushroom gravy instead of sausage. Vegan biscuits are also available by request. —Nicole Bradley
Burnt End Hash at Rye
Multiple locations
Leave it to Kansas City to build a bridge between breakfast and barbecue. The Burnt End Hash at local chain Rye is the ideal meal for ’cue enthusiasts, carnivores and the massively hungover. Picture a pile of cubed roasted fingerling potatoes tossed with red bell peppers and onions in a spicy tomato sauce, plus tender brisket burnt ends—all topped with sunny side-up eggs and dotted with fresh chives. —Natalie Gallagher
Green Goddess Smoothie at Gigi’s Wellness Cafe
The menu at Westport’s cozy Gigi’s Wellness Cafe isn’t big, but it does pack a flavorful punch. Put your best foot forward in the morning with a Green Goddess Smoothie: Fistfuls of kale, sliced kiwi and dates are blended with a house-made banana nut milk. The result is twelve ounces of bountiful, craveable nutrition. —Natalie Gallagher
Haystack Sandwich at Town Topic
Multiple locations
The Haystack is a not-so-secret secret menu item at all three locations of Town Topic. Everyone knows what you’re talking about when you order it: It’s the standard breakfast sandwich—an over-easy egg with your choice of meat (sausage, ham or bacon) and cheese on Texas toast, with the added bonus of crispy hash browns layered in. It’s your everything-but-the-kitchen-sink hangover cure or just the right amount of fuel your body needs to tackle the day. —Natalie Gallagher
Breakfast Flatbread at You Say Tomato
More of a spherical personal pizza than a traditional rectangular flatbread, You Say Tomato’s version of a breakfast ’za is steps above what you’ll pick up at the nearest QuikTrip. Scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes and cheddar cheese top a vegetarian gravy spread over a crispy crust. The only way it can get more Midwestern is by dipping it in ranch. —Nicole Bradley
Palmier at Black Dog Coffeehouse
12815 W. 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa
This very popular cafe’s breads and pastries come from its partners at Ibis Bakery, which makes some of the finest baked goods in town. For whatever reason, at Black Dog Coffeehouse we always gravitate to one of the cheapest, simplest items on the menu: the Palmier. This French treat is made from puff pastry that gets cinnamon and sugar folded into it before being crisped to perfection. It runs just two bucks and is perfect for dipping in a cup of Messenger drip coffee. —Martin Cizmar
Chorizo Waffles at Mockingbird Lounge
Whether you’re in the mood for brunch or breakfast for dinner, the Mockingbird Lounge, perched on Strawberry Hill overlooking downtown KC, should be topping your list. Chorizo Waffles, a fan-favorite, feature a fluffy and sweet waffle topped with two over-easy eggs, slightly spicy chorizo and a fresh pico de gallo. This dish is a must for anyone who loves a sweet and savory item that will easily earn a place in the clean plate club. —Rob Henrichs
Milwaukee’s Hangover Bloody Mary at Coach’s
Multiple locations
This Bloody Mary from Coach’s is the granddaddy of hair-of-the-dog cocktails. Skewers of andouille sausage, bacon, beef jerky, assorted cheese cubes, shrimp, veggies and a cheese and bacon burger slider sit packed in a pint filled with house bloody mix and two shots of your choice of vodka. They sell these until 2 pm on the weekends, so make sure to get there before then. —Nicole Bradley
The Brick House at Brick House
Brick House on Martini Corner is the place to be on a summer weekend—gaggles of bachelorette partygoers and hungover twenty-somethings make their way to the beer garden to play bags and take advantage of the spot’s generous bottomless mimosa pours. The signature namesake dish at Brick House, however, is one that I’d suggest to warm you up on a winter day: A slab of crispy fried chicken over biscuits is drenched in wholesome gravy and topped with bacon bits and a fried egg. —Nicole Bradley
Sticky Biscuit at Big Biscuit
Multiple locations
When it comes to biscuits, I tend to steer savory instead of sweet. Not at popular local chain Big Biscuit, where the house’s signature sticky biscuits sweetened with caramelized brown sugar and lathered in vanilla icing. It’s the ideal way to start any breakfast here. —Martin Cizmar
Country Fried Steak at Dagwood’s
At Dagwood’s Cafe you’ll find a classic American diner breakfast: the country fried steak and two eggs. Delicious is an understatement for this plate. It has everything you want, including crispy country fried steak with sausage gravy, two eggs cooked to order, hash browns or home fries, and your choice of rye, white or wheat toast or an English muffin. —Rob Henrich
