Best Hole-in-the-Wall Breakfast Place in Every State

Cheapism’s independent editorial team finds the best for less. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission to support our work.

Restaurants & DiningView Slideshow

Wakey, Wakey

Hole-in-the-wall eateries are often ones you might overlook from the outside, but they can host some of the best bites at unbeatable prices inside. Here are the best breakfast hole-in-the-wall locations in every state and Washington, D.C., based on reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor, recommendations, and rankings from local food experts.

Alabama: Salem’s Diner

Homewood

This family-owned restaurant has built a reputation for its cheesesteak and breakfast choices like the Trashcan — a mix of hash browns, onions, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and spicy sausage. Save room for the lemon icebox pie, which comes from a decades-old family recipe that makes for an unbelievably creamy slice.

Alaska: Judy’s Café

Anchorage

This homey diner in Anchorage has been serving up classics like reindeer sausage, omelets, French toast, and more for over 24 years. As one Yelp reviewer gushed, "Judy’s Cafe never disappoints. Just wholesome, stick to your bones, real diner cookin!"

For more great restaurant guides and dining tips, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Arizona: Anita Street Market

Tucson

This family-owned business is known for its handmade flour tortillas. The legacy owner Grace Soto created remains in the hearts of locals who stop here for breakfast burritos that are wrapped in large tortillas to create a soft and pillowy base for fillings of chorizo, eggs, potatoes, bacon, and cheese.

California: Larry’s Chili Dog

Los Angeles

To start your day with an unforgettable breakfast burrito, head to Larry’s Chili Dog in Burbank where you’ll find a small stand serving up burritos filled with bacon, sausage, egg, cheese, hash browns, and green-chili salsa. Make sure to get there early, as breakfast here stops at 11 a.m.

Colorado: Village Coffee Shop

Boulder

This small diner — standing at only 890 feet — is big in the hearts of locals who come here for simple homemade breakfast. For over 49 years, the spot has been serving favorites like its blueberry pancakes, French toast, crispy hash browns, and biscuits and gravy.

Connecticut: Speedy Donuts

Norwalk

Speedy Donuts has been serving fresh handmade doughnuts since 1969, with the airy French Cruller remaining a favorite choice for Norwalk locals. Besides doughnut selections ranging from cinnamon twist to fluffy jelly, the family-owned stop serves breakfast selections like egg sandwiches wrapped in fresh rolls, crispy bacon, and pancakes.

District of Columbia: Heat Da Spot Café

Washington

This relaxed family-owned café offers breakfast all day, with Ethiopian twists on coffee, breakfast, and lunch. These include an Ethiopian breakfast — eggs sautéed in authentic spices served with veggies and a samosa. French toast, and simple yet delicious breakfast sandwiches alongside chai lattes are also recommended dishes to try.

Florida: West Tampa Sandwich Shop

Hawaii: Hanalima Bakery

Lihue

Breakfast choices at this local institution include eggs made with spam and rice, a breakfast burrito with spam or Portuguese sausage, breakfast quesadillas, loco moco, kimchi fried rice omelets, and more. Pastries are both savory and sweet here, from crab and spam rolls, to lilikoi scones you won’t want to miss.

Indiana: Lincoln Square Pancake House

Indianapolis

The Lincoln Square Pancake House doesn’t look like much located next to a Pizza Hut and a dollar store, but fans keep coming back for the French toast, creative breakfast scrambles and breakfast classics. One Yelp reviewer raved, "Casual, inexpensive, parking, not crowded, delicious… what more could you want in a breakfast joint?"

Kentucky: JK’s at Forest Grove

Winchester

Dubbed the best diner in the state by Yelp, this is where you’ll get country cooking for a great price. The banana pudding is considered unforgettable here, while the hot brown — turkey and country ham in homemade cheese sauce topped with bacon, hot sauce, and more — leave locals coming back for more.

Louisiana: Sam’s

Jefferson

Sam’s Po-Boys, also known as Sam’s Food Store, is a family-run sandwich counter that’s been serving the fresh staple to locals for decades. The breakfast sandwiches are as popular as lunch choices and include sausage patties grilled to perfection and topped with eggs and cheese on French bread.

Maryland: Belle Grove Grocery

Little Orleans

This tiny, old-fashioned diner is located inside of a gas station, where the homemade pies are known to be the real star of the show. The mom-and-pop location has cheap eggs, toast, and sausage options, while pie flavors range from lemon meringue and coconut to blueberry and chocolate meringue.

Michigan: Walt’s Restaurant

Caseville

This family-owned restaurant has been serving locals for over 50 years and is known for its homestyle cooking. Real potatoes are always used here, and the homemade breads are also known for being delicious. Sweet treats like cinnamon rolls and doughnuts are recommended, in addition to flaky and buttery biscuits.

Minnesota: Al’s Breakfast

Minneapolis

This tiny breakfast location is popular thanks to breakfast plates like corned beef hash and buttermilk pancakes you can get with everything from sweet corn kernels to strawberries and sour cream. Keep in mind that the space is usually crowded (you can also order for curb pickup), but if you don’t mind that you’ll be in for a treat.

Missouri: Billy Gail’s

Branson

This family-owned breakfast and lunch spot is known for its 14-inch pancakes that are made from scratch, which you can add on to any of your entrees for $6.99. The French Cakes, which are pancakes dipped in French toast batter with your choice of pecan, blueberry, or bacon, are equally delicious.

Nevada: Carlillos Cocina

Sparks

, this restaurant that locals describe as a mix between a taco truck and a diner is a hit for its authentic Mexican breakfast offerings that include its large-sized huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, or chili relleno.

New Hampshire: Fat Dog Kitchen

This dog-friendly eatery includes menu favorites like the Captain’s French Toast, French toast dipped in Captain Crunch cereal, and Fat Elvis, which comes stuffed with peanut butter and bananas, and topped with bananas and candied bacon. Benedicts are also a favorite here, with breakfast served all day.

New Mexico: Bocadillos

Albuquerque

For a killer breakfast burrito, head to this sandwich shop located inside a Wells Fargo building where you’ll find a range of options from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Here, chef Marie Yniguez prepares breakfast burritos that come stuffed with everything from chorizo to red chile marinated pork and corned beef.

New York: Reben Luncheonette ‘Morir Soñando’

Brooklyn

This community staple is known for its Dominican-American offerings. The famed drink here is Morir Soñando, made with fresh-squeezed orange juice, milk, and sweet additions that create a drink reminiscent of an orange Dreamsicle. The home fries and the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches are also popular choices.

North Carolina: Little Rocket

Farmville

Head to this walk-up order spot dating back to 1963 to try some of the best cheese biscuits around. Order them piping hot in person and grab a frozen version of the handmade treat to take home. Besides cheese, biscuits here also come with bacon, ham, steak, chicken, and more.

Oklahoma: Good Gravy Diner

This diner has close to 50 different types of gravy, from classics to chocolate, bacon burger, and jalapeño on ham. Biscuits here are delicious and diners say they love the chorizo sausage gravy to dip them into. Go for the sampler and get four different types of gravy to try. Employees are screened daily for Covid, too.

Oregon: Fuller’s Coffee Shop

Portland

Fuller’s Coffee Shop has been serving the neighborhood since 1947 and still serves homemade breads and bottomless coffee like it did back then. Expect incredibly crispy hash browns, eggs done right, and thick buttermilk pancakes that remind you that breakfast truly can be the best meal of the day.

Pennsylvania: Christie’s Deli

Philadelphia

Diners love the sandwiches at this Philadelphia deli, which makes breakfast versions on croissants. Choices range from a pork roll with cheddar cheese, fried eggs, onion, hash browns, and garlic sriracha to a pastrami and provolone breakfast sandwich.

South Carolina: Compton’s Kitchen

This casual diner started off with homemade buttermilk breakfast biscuits in the 70s, and its biscuits are still one of the best items you can get today. Biscuit selections include tasty choices like country ham, sausage, bologna, thick-sliced bacon, and an impeccable country style steak biscuit served with gravy.

Tennessee: Tennessee Jed’s

Vermont: The Sandwich Shoppe

This family-owned sandwich shop dating back to 1981 makes excellent breakfast sandwiches, with your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage on English muffins, bagels, rolls or wraps. Sweet choices include French toast, which you can stuff with ham, cheese, and a side of maple syrup for dipping.

Virginia: Uptown Café

Washington: Morsel

Biscuits are all the rave at Morsel, with toppings like apple butter, chocolate hazelnut butter, and maple butter, or savory choices like herbed goat cheese and pepper aioli. For a heartier breakfast, there are biscuit sandwiches, all of which are under $10.

Wyoming: Sweet Cheeks Meats

This butcher in Wyoming offers top-notch breakfast sandwich options using local products. You’ll find breakfast sandwiches made with homemade biscuits and filled with sausages, egg, and cheese. Lunch options here also incorporate breakfast, like chicken sandwiched between waffles and burgers topped with cheese and fried eggs.