What’s the difference between hotcakes, flapjacks and pancakes? We don’t know and we don’t care—as long as we’re getting some Sunday morning at brunch. To make sure that happens, we’ll be heading to one of Chicago’s 20 best brunch spots. Read on to find the one in your ’hood.
The 20 Best Brunches in Chicago (by Neighborhood)
•
Published Apr 3, 2017
Logan Square: Jam
Our perfect Sunday: Malted custard French toast at Jam, strolling the Logan Square farmers' market and a late matinee at The Logan Theatre.
3057 W. Logan Blvd.; 773-292-6011 or jamrestaurant.com
Pilsen: Dusek’s
After a night at Thalia Hall and the downstairs Punch Room, we rise Sunday morning and head back to the very same address for crab cake Benedict and home fries at Dusek’s. If only the owners would just let us move in.
1227 W. 18th St.; 312-526-3851 or dusekschicago.com
Andersonville: M.henry
We didn’t think pancakes could get any better until we tried M.henry’s fluffy pumpkin and sweet potato hotcakes topped with warm apple slices, maple mascarpone crème and toasted pecans. Um, yum.
5707 N. Clark St.; 773-561-1600 or mhenry.net
Humboldt Park: Scofflaw
Gin-focused cocktails by night, tasty brunch (hello, breakfast tostada with mole-braised chicken) by day. We like where Scofflaw’s head is at.
3201 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-252-9700 or scofflawchicago.com
Beatrix/Facebook
Streeterville: Beatrix
Sure, you can buy Beatrix’s house-made granola to take home—but then who’s going to plate it all pretty with fresh berries and a sprig of mint?
671 N. St. Clair; 312-642-0001 or beatrixchicago.com
River North: Bohemian House
When you need a break from your standard eggs and pancakes, head here for a schnitzel sandwich with duck eggs or Bavarian pancakes with red plum and toasted meringue. Trust us, it’s next level.
11 W. Illinois St.; 312-955-0439 or bohochicago.com
Wicker Park: Dove’s Luncheonette
We love this cute little spot tucked between Big Star and Publican Anker. But don’t let the diminutive size fool you: Hearty Tex-Mex fare like the grilled pork chop with crispy potatoes, sausage and fried egg demands a big appetite.
1545 N. Damen Ave.; 773-645-4060 or doveschicago.com
Lincoln Park: Toast
What’s really “toast” is your diet, thanks to scrumptious Elvis pancakes made with peanut-butter-and-chocolate-chip batter and topped with bananas and pretzel. Everyone deserves a cheat day, right?
746 W. Webster Ave.; 773-935-5600 or chicago-toast.com
@thepublican/instagram
West Loop: The Publican
A bed of French fries for our eggs and bacon as thick as our favorite glossy magazine. Now this is what we call brunch.
837 W. Fulton Market; 312-733-9555 or thepublicanrestaurant.com
Gold Coast: Original Pancake House
Blueberry pancakes, strawberries and whipped cream—nothing beats the original.
22 E. Bellevue Pl.; 312-642-7917 or originalpancakehouse.com
Ravenswood: Over Easy Cafe
The house specialty “sassy eggs” definitely lives up to its name. A mound of chorizo, pepper and potato hash gets topped with two eggs, cheddar cheese, ancho ketchup, sour cream and guacamole. Call us sassed.
4943 N. Damen Ave.; 773-506-2605 or overeasycafechicago.com
West Town: Breakfast House
It’s not hard to get good fried chicken and waffles in Chicago: just head to this unassuming spot. The tricky part is actually sharing the corn cakes you got for the table.
1800 W. Grand Ave.; 312-997-2400 or breakfast-house.com
Hyde Park: A10
The summer tartine tops a slice of ciabatta with seasonal produce, whipped Purple Haze cheese and honeycomb. Sure puts our basic toast with jam to shame.
1462 E. 53rd St.; 773-288-1010 or a10hydepark.com
Cherry Circle Room
Loop: Cherry Circle Room
The culinary forces behind Longman & Eagle created this gem at Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Good luck choosing between the surf-and-turf eggs Benedict with pork belly and nova salmon and the Belgian waffle with blueberry compote, mascarpone and roasted pistachio butter.
12 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-792-3515 or chicagoathletichotel.com
Lakeview: Batter & Berries
French toast? Try: brioche dipped in strawberry batter, served with fresh berries and sprinkled with powdered sugar and maple butter. Now that’s better.
2748 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-248-7710
Bucktown: Hot Chocolate
Breakfast risotto is a thing—that is, an amazing thing filled with pancetta, leeks and Parmesan. Thank you, Mindy Segal.
1747 N. Damen Ave.; 773-489-1747 or hotchocolatechicago.com
South Loop: Meli Cafe
Get your pancake fix minus the sugar crash: Meli makes multigrain cakes with cranberries, raisins and chia seeds.
500 S. Dearborn St.; 312-834-0500 or melicafe.com
Southport Corridor: Southport Grocery
Sure, cheesy corn grits with chicken thigh and an egg sounds filling...until you spot the to-go cupcakes on your way out.
3552 N. Southport Ave.; 773-665-0100 or southportgrocery.com
Tweet Let’s Eat/Facebook
Uptown: Tweet
From the vegan- and gluten-free-friendly dishes to the retro decor, there’s a lot to love about Tweet. But these little Danish doughnuts cooked hot in the owner’s grandmother’s vintage aebleskiver pan have pretty much stolen our hearts.
5020 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-728-5576 or tweet.biz
Ukrainian Village: Milk & Honey
With layers of gooey cheddar, crispy tortillas and scrambled eggs, the casserole-style huevos rancheros deserve a spot on your Chicago brunch bucket list. Don’t have a Chicago brunch bucket list? Time to get your priorities in order.
1920 W. Division St.; 773-395-9434 or milkandhoneycafe.com
