It's not breakfast. It's not lunch. It's far more important. It's two meals in one and that's why we love it so much. A great many calories have been consumed to produce this list. It's a high price to pay, but where bacon calls, we will follow.
1. Grub
Photo © Joey V.
Grub has hit the big time. The one-time hidden Hollywood secret has blossomed into a full blown city-wide, must-visit dining spot. The line to get in can be long, so get there early. Street parking can be a problem, but you can stash your car in lot 1/2 a block north of the restaurant. Co-owners Betty Fraser and Denise DeCarlo, a.k.a. The Grub Gals, show off their creativity in their menu and the enticing twists they employ on longtime breakfast staples. Get the bacon. They cook it in maple syrup. It will make you cry.
- Phone: (323) 461-3663
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11am-3pm
- Sat-Sun 9am-2pm
2. Quality Food & Beverage
Quality is a perennial L.A. brunch favorite. It's on West Third, just west of Fairfax. It's crowded and parking can be a pain, but the whipped strawberry butter they serve with their hot biscuits is worth the wait.
- Phone: (323) 658-5959
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 8am-3pm
- Sat-Sun 8:30am-4pm
3. Fred 62
It's hip, it's happening, it's Fred 62. Join the Los Feliz regulars trouping to this Vermont Avenue restaurant and you won't be sorry. Think Grunge married Goth, had kids and opened up a '50s-style diner. Order the Eggs Fredstone for an unexpected taste treat.
- Phone: (323) 677-0062
- Hours: 24/7
4. Vivian's Millennium Cafe
© 2007 Jamison Selby, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Vivian's is in Studio City at the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Vineland Avenue. It remains a lesser-known neighborhood delight for the moment so get down there now before the rest of the city joins in. They specialize in Banana Pancakes, but the omelets are great as well. It's a pooch friendly establishment so if you want to bring your dog they have a special area set aside just for you. To top it all off, they sell a calendar featuring their waitresses. How L.A. is that?
- Phone: (818) 762-8710
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 7am-3:30pm
- Sun: 8am-3pm
5. The Rose Café
Yummy goodness in Venice. The Rose opened up in 1979 and it's been serving up good food ever since. Check out the art displayed on the walls and browse the gift shop while you're waiting for one of the outdoor tables. Try the Eggs Scandia or the Salmon Florentine.
- Phone: (310) 399-0711
- Brunch Hours: Sat-Sun: 8am-3pm
6. Scarlett Tea Room
Head to the corner of Fair Oaks and Green Street in Old Pasadena for sumptuously deluxe experience. The marble floors echo an old Southern hospitality but the attitude is pure Southern California fun. Order their signature Scarlett Tea Ceremony for a 5-course meal that reminds you how much fun eating can be.
- Phone: (626) 577-0051
- Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-4pm
7. Geoffrey's Malibu
Photo © Geoffrey's Malibu
Let loose your inner movie star. Head up to Malibu and dine looking out over the waves of the Pacific. This is a pricey stop but the food is fantastic and the atmosphere can't be beat. Try the Scotch Benedict or the Lobster Cobb.
- Phone: (310) 457-1519
- Brunch Hours: Sat-Sun: 10am-3:30pm
8. Uncle Bill's Pancake House
Obviously, pancakes are the draw at Uncle Bill's in Manhattan Beach. Try their Blueberry Pancakes. They make other pancakes suffer from a severe inferiority complex. If you're a waffle fan, try the Cheddar Bacon Waffles. They have bacon. Bacon is always a good thing.
- Phone: (310) 545-5177
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 6am-3pm
- Sat-Sun 7am-3pm
9. Marston's Restaurant
This Pasadena foodie-favorite is well known for its homespun decor and the long lines waiting outside to get in. Go for the Macadamia Nut Pancakes with real maple syrup. Leave extra time to find a place to park.
- Phone: (626) 796-2459
- Brunch Hours:
- Sat-Sun: 8am-2:30pm
- Wed-Fri: Breakfast 7am-11am Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm
10. The Castaway
Perched high on the hills north of Burbank, The Castaway has the best view of the San Fernando Valley from any restaurant in the city. The food here is fine, but you come to sit outside on the porch, sip Mimosas and bask in the glow of the good life.
- Phone: (818) 848-6691
- Brunch Hours
- Saturday: 11pm-3pm
- Sunday: 9:30am-3pm
