In Dallas, breakfast spots can often get overlooked in favor of high-energy weekend brunches designed for Instagram consumption and Monday morning hangovers. But the city is full of places where eggs, bacon, biscuits, taquitos, bagels, and fresh-squeezed OJ have starring roles, and are on offer early on weekdays and late into the weekends.
Consider this guide of go-to restaurants in Dallas for a serving of the most important meal of the day.
Norma’s
Norma’s has been slinging eggs and chicken-fried steak since 1956, and with six locations across DFW, it is one of the most convenient and iconic places to enjoy a classic diner breakfast. Cinnamon rolls, omelettes, breakfast tacos, and fluffy biscuits and gravy always satisfy. Fast and friendly service makes it easy to pop in before work and eat way better than a drive-thru. Multiple locations, normascafe.com
Oddfellows
Starting at 7 a.m. daily, the charming Bishop Arts District comes to life once the doors to Oddfellows swing open and welcome the first customer. It’s a rare place where you can enjoy a top-quality, chef-driven experience for breakfast, or capture the brunch vibe on the revamped patio. Try the just-spicy-enough brisket hash with chile rojo and Hollandaise or decadent bread pudding French toast, great for sharing. 316 W. Seventh St., Dallas, oddfellowsdallas.com
Maple Leaf Diner
Cream puffs for breakfast, eh? At this Canadian-themed diner, that’s an acceptable side dish. Different national publications and TV shows have praised the diner’s massive trio of waffle towers for good reason—they’re showstoppers, and as gorgeous as they are filling. Try a sausage waffle topped with fried chicken and whipped cream, or a savory stack of waffles and steak with sautéed peppers, onions, and white gravy. 12817 Preston Rd. #129, Dallas, mldiner.com
Circle Grill
This East Dallas staple first opened its doors in 1946 and has been a neighborhood tradition ever since. It’s a wonderful place to stop in on an ordinary Tuesday for Eggs Benedict or some sunny-side-up eggs with a side of whole-wheat pancakes. Heck, throw in a milkshake if you feel the urge. 3701 N Buckner Blvd., Dallas, circlegrilldallas.com
Oasis Cafe
Hit the ATM before you dine, because this popular Greenville Avenue diner only accepts cash for its classic breakfast fare. It’s so old-school, they don’t have a website or much of an online presence, but the food speaks for itself. Omelettes always satisfy, with nine different options on the menu. Check the whiteboard for the day’s specials, which often feature surprise omelettes or must-try Mexican egg dishes. 5945 Greenville Ave., Dallas
Luckys Cafe
Lose yourself in the retro vibe at this Oak Lawn stalwart. With an emphasis on farm-fresh ingredients, you can treat yourself to a diner breakfast of the highest quality. Always check the chalkboard for specials, but you can never go wrong with all-day breakfast options, including enchiladas and eggs, chicken and waffles, or pot roast hash—selections that bridges the gap between lunchtime blue plate classics and your strongest breakfast desires. 3531 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, luckysdallas.com
Crickles and Co.
Though the business bills itself as a brunch bakery, you can enjoy sweet treats from Crickles and Co. between Wednesday and Sunday, beginning as early as 8 a.m. The family-owned restaurant has built a following devoted to its Texas cackleberry sandwich, a stack of two eggs, bacon, and pimento cheese layered between jalapeño toast. Grab a dozen cookies before you leave, and set yourself up for a fantastic day. 4000 Cedar Springs Rd., Ste. E, Dallas, cricklesandco.com
Shug’s Bagels
Many people consider Shug’s to serve the closest thing to New York City-style bagels in all of North Texas. Go simple with a toasted everything bagel and lox spread, or fuel up for a few hours with the spicy Shug: a choice of bagel topped with bacon, egg, pepper jack, hash browns, and hot sauce for a Texas variation of the classic NYC breakfast sandwich. Gluten-free bagels and vegan schmear options make it accessible for people with a variety of dietary preferences. Multiple locations, shugsbagels.com
The Biscuit Bar
It’s all about the biscuit sandwiches at this local chain. The Deep Ellum location stays open until 3 a.m., so you can have your next-morning breakfast in the wee hours after you leave a bar or concert. Try the Chicken and Not a Waffle, served on a French toast biscuit, or give in and order the Rough Night, a towering concoction of southern fried chicken, burger patty, ham, turkey, pulled pork, crispy bacon, tots, cheddar cheese, and B-Bar sausage gravy. Multiple locations, thebiscuit.bar
360 Brunch House
Despite what its moniker suggests, Brunch House is open daily at 8 a.m., and sometimes earlier. Kick off a busy day with a breakfast bowl, like the steak-laden Cowboy Bowl, on the patio, or indulge your sweet tooth with apple whiskey cakes, set aflame tableside, reserved exclusively for guests 21 and up. Multiple locations, 360brunchhouse.com
Original Market Diner
Located between the Medical District and Market Center, this beloved diner always draws a crowd for breakfast from early weekday mornings to midday on weekends. Try a skillet loaded with eggs, veggies, cheese, and protein. Dive into a stack of buttermilk pancakes if you’re really hungry, or try a smaller portion from the Express for Less Menu, which still equates to plenty of food. 4434 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, originalmarketdiner.com
Tacos y Mas
A Dallas breakfast restaurants list wouldn’t be complete without a great spot for tacos, and this DFW chain has convenient locations to descend upon when the craving strikes. For less than $3 apiece, get egg-and-cheese tacos with one additional ingredient, like chorizo, bacon, or potatoes. The tacos travel well, so take a bunch to work and be the office hero. Multiple locations, tacosymasdtx.com
Garden Cafe
Tucked away in a residential East Dallas neighborhood, Garden Cafe is an unassuming destination worth seeking out. As the name suggests, many of the ingredients hail from the on-site garden. The restaurant opens at 10 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, so it’s more of an extended weekend kinda place for breakfast sandwiches, chicken-fried steak and eggs, and strawberry shortcake. 5310 Junius St., Dallas, gardencafe.net
Dream Cafe
Say the name Dream Cafe to anyone who’s lived in Dallas the past few decades, and they’ll likely immediately recommend the restaurant’s famous popovers with homemade strawberry butter. And, for good reason—they are a must-have of the menu. A trio of benedicts, including a crab cake version and another with fried chicken, trick your brain into thinking you’re on vacation somewhere exotic, even if it’s Wednesday morning in the middle of a crazy work week. Multiple locations, dreamcafedallas.com
Mama’s Daughters’ Diner
Piping hot coffee and fluffy biscuits await, seven days a week from open to close, at this local home-cooking chain. One of Mama’s daughters owns each location across DFW, and regulars flock to their favorite booth or table at least once a week. Here, it’s perfectly OK to order a slice of pie for breakfast dessert, or even as breakfast itself. Multiple locations, mamasdaughtersdiner.com
