Rise and Dine: A Delectable Dive into 5 Breakfast Hotspots
Have you ever found yourself fighting with your friends or family about the choice of breakfast destination? Or maybe had the occurrence of trying a new spot and leaving disappointed? Are you worried not everyone in your group will appreciate the atmosphere or the menu? Good news for you, a breakfast connoisseur selected her top five breakfast joints, each sporting different vibes you may have been searching for. Something a lot of people don’t realize is that there are many different types of breakfast spots ranging from the classic American breakfast, to new and upcoming ideas built around modernistic food culture. In this article, I've curated a list of breakfast spots that will satisfy your wants and needs for the most important meal–and ritual–of the day.
Blu Jam Cafe
Blu Jam Cafe is top of mind when I first think of breakfast. The quality and comfort of this place shows you that this restaurant takes breakfast seriously, with their simple philosophy being, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” They offer a wide range of food items including seasonal dishes, which, while being very complex and gourmet, are still classic and soothing.
Blu Jam Cafe describes itself as an elevated breakfast cuisine. It all started as an idea between two good friends, and they created their first location in the heart of Hollywood on Melrose Avenue in 2006. During prohibition, the original location was a blues club, and that’s when the name Blu Jam was born. There are restaurants located in Hollywood, Tarzana, Brentwood, Sherman Oaks, downtown Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, and Atwater Village. Staying connected to their roots, each location accommodates their customers with a welcoming jazzy environment, with hours of 9:00am-2:00pm weekdays, and 9:00am-3:00pm weekends. The menu has eccentric takes on traditional dishes, with a very substantial variety of options, not excluding lunch foods. When you take a trip to Blu Jam, you will find that their “Crunchy French Toast” is a highly recommended and top-rated dish. This isn’t your typical french toast - it will make you regret not ordering two because it will be gone the second it hits the table. The triangle-shaped brioche is coated in a secret batter and crunchy cornflakes. Grilled to perfection, each toast is topped with ripe assorted berries, while the side of vanilla sauce takes it to the next level. It’s your choice to dip or pour, but my recommendation is to get some extra.
It’s good to take note that the menu is very considerate of dietary restrictions and has numerous vegan options, like their vegan tostada. A savory dish I would recommend that continues to be my staple is the Norwegian Benedict. With the amazing side of famous crispy potatoes that comes with many of their dishes, the combination of their hollandaise sauce with the smoked salmon will always be a winning choice.
It’s never a bad time for the variety of drinks you can get your hands on from this cafe. From plain coffees, to lattes, to fresh pressed orange juice, to ginger shots, I guarantee everyone will be happy with their choices.
Huckleberry Cafe
Perhaps you find yourself in a beachy mood and head over to Santa Monica. Where can you go to find an amazing array of fresh pastries, a large drink menu, and refreshingly fresh dishes that will satisfy all your hunger needs? Huckleberry Cafe. This woman-owned counter service breakfast joint will have you wanting to order everything you see. When you walk in, you are greeted with their to-go hot bar and display case of freshly baked pastries. The key takeaway I had from my first experience at Huckleberry was that they’re provided with fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers. Owner Zoe Nathan is known for her pastries, which automatically makes having at least one pastry a must when you visit. With hours from 7:00am-3:00pm, this spot can fit somewhere in your day, whether it’s a casual brunch or early morning coffee meeting.
On a Sunday morning, I was seated pretty quickly and given my pastries right away, along with a number for my food order. The first time I went, I got to try the matcha latte, a lemon poppyseed muffin, monkey bread, “Dad’s Blueberry Pancakes,” and the Market Vegetable Bowl. The pastries were decadent and flavorful and the muffin was my personal favorite. The pancakes were fluffy and sweet. The dish that surprisingly pleased me was the Market Vegetable Bowl. On the menu, it’s described pretty simply, stating it consists of vegetables, a sunny side-up egg, pickled Fresno chilies, and lemon oil. Although it is described as a vegan dish on the menu, it was a bit confusing considering the eggs were an essential part of the dish. There was also the option to add Niman Ranch bacon or turkey chorizo. The freshness of the dish came with a stunning flavor punch from the vinegar, lemon broccolini, and chidori kale, which paired very well with the sweet delicata squash. I would say this dish is pretty light, which makes it great if you’re planning to order pastries, which will fill you up faster than you think. My only distinct note I have for these dishes were that their eggs weren’t cooked the best. If you are looking for something more filling, the breakfast burrito and sandwiches on their menu looked delicious. Overall, I think this restaurant provided good service, good pastries, good food, and good vibes.
Clark Street Diner
Just outside the heart of Hollywood, you will find Clark Street Diner. This is the diner connected to the Adler A Hotel, which many locals visit for its Hollywood authenticity. If you have family or friends visiting and want a quick fix of a good ol’ Hollywood breakfast, or if you just finished your weekly Sunday Hollywood Farmers’ Market trip and want to feel like a 60’s Hollywood superstar, this is your spot. This dining experience brings you a classic yet elevated American breakfast, along with retro music playing straight from the jukebox. There are many tables, along with barside seating but be aware that they are all usually taken and you may have to wait–however, it will be worth your while. This diner offers a good selection of fresh pastries that sell fast.
The drinks are plentiful, offering many non-alcoholic as well as alcoholic beverages, milkshakes, and lattes. The food menu consists mostly of egg dishes, french toast, pancakes, chicken and waffles, toasts, and bagels. What makes this diner special is that they also offer lunch and dinner, with their hours being 7:00am-9:00pm. The after breakfast dishes include sandwiches, soups, burgers. One dish I would recommend are the eggs florentine with smoked salmon, which comes with a side of perfectly crispy hashbrowns. I would say the food is really solid, but the main reason it’s a staple for me is because of its convenient location near the farmers market; it’s also the perfect vibe for a Sunday morning in Hollywood.
Aroma Cafe
The very last but not least breakfast scene would be Aroma Cafe in the eccentric Tujunga Village District. This coffee and tea company looks like it could be found right next to a boulangerie in the 7th arrondissement of Paris — it yet still comes with the notorious ambiance of casual LA. Unlike Paris, it rarely rains in LA, and when it does you know it’s the perfect time to ring a friend and meet them for a hot latte and slice of pie. However, you may not be the only person with this idea and when you arrive; you will most likely find a line outside the restaurant; this is a counter service operation. To me, this is more than outweighed by the very large pastry, pie, and cake selection Aroma offers.
There are options for those with dietary restrictions, such as three types of vegan assorted muffins, and also many gluten-free options like a lemon raspberry cupcake. As for other pastries, the cakes are phenomenal and worth a try — I recommend the coconut cream and the citrus olive oil cakes. When it comes to the surroundings of this cafe, the liveliness that this location exudes is like no other. Each table and chair you can sit at varies in style, which gives off a homely and comfortable feeling. With inside and outside seating, there are many tables to choose from. Maybe you are more of a people watcher; in that case, you can sit in the front of the restaurant. Or perhaps you’re there meeting someone; then the inside and back of the restaurant will offer more silence. The food is truly fresh and flavorful, and includes the basics of breakfast dishes, such as the classic BLT, buttermilk pancakes, French toast, breakfast burritos, and egg specials. What’s interesting about the wide span of choices on the menu are the out of the ordinary dishes such as a Mediterranean plate or a taco bowl that you wouldn’t normally find at most cafes. I typically order some version of a smoked salmon egg benedict, and Aroma’s take on it was unexpectedly made to my liking. Instead of the classic English muffins under the poached eggs, Aroma uses incredibly crispy “potato pancakes,” which gives the dish the name “Salmon Stack.” Other than that, the dish is pretty standard with the hollandaise sauce and poached eggs, along with good quality smoked salmon. The hours of Aroma Cafe are 7:00am-9:00pm, and I think of it as the best evening spot to grab a nice latte and slice of cake with the ones you cherish.
Next time you find yourself searching for a new breakfast spot, give one of these options a try and hopefully find your new favorite! If you have any recommendations for me, I’d love to hear them!