THE BIG DINER BREAKFAST EDITION
Diner lifestyle doesn’t always seem like a thing here in Northern California. LA is full of stellar ones and of course they are everywhere on the east coast. But San Francisco seems to only have Mels’s and iHop to offer, not necessarily the kind of places you want to return to week after week.
But unlike SF, the East Bay has a few gems worth lining up for. Here’s your list of some of the best east bay breakfast spots with booths, counters, leather swivel chairs, hearty portions, burnt coffee in big mugs, and of course, shameless amounts of butter. A handy map and more detail below:
900 Grayson: On the fancy end of “diner,” this Berkeley mainstay is known for their chicken and waffles, a dish they for some reason call “the demon lover.” Sure, why not. I went here when I was gigantically pregnant and there was a line out the door. The manager quickly escorted me straight to a seat at the bar as if I would go into labor if I didn’t get fed. (Possible). So needless to say, the food is solid and the staff is 💯. They’re open every day except Sunday and deliver via Caviar.
Lois the Pie Queen: Now this is a diner. They’re cash-only and as far as I can tell, don’t have a website. There are leather swivel stools at the counter. There are pies in cases. There are photos of the owners with their celebrity friends like Reggie Jackson on the wall. There are hash browns. Basically, it’s all happening. Lois regularly ranks on Eater’s top places to eat in the east bay, I think because it’s so damn consistent. It’s housed in an old Victorian, a monument in the middle of a sleepy residential Oakland neighborhood. The staff is welcoming, the food is to die for, and the portions are enormous. They’re known for the sweet potato pie, but I’m partial to the coconut cream with its sugary sweet crust. Based on the ambiance, this place might seem like it’d be a cheap meal, but it’s 2019 Bay Area so it’s not. Regardless, The Pie Queen is a real treat.
Koffee Pot: I’m immediately drawn to any place that spells koffee with a ‘k’ because it reminds me of vacationing in places like Scandinavia or Germany or Japan where they spell it that way. I instantly assume it’s better than just a ‘c’ coffee place, because being on vacation is better than not. Koffee Pot (on Telegraph close to downtown) is in a rather ambiguous spot with signage that makes it easy to overlook. On the inside, it’s tiny, featuring a beautiful, custom-designed wooden bar, a few small booths and tables, and room for only about 12 people. Koffee Pot has been a thing since 1928 (!) but the new owners bought the petite location about two years ago and made it their own. They’re all about the Korean Bulgogi dishes, but also do the American staples. Really interesting and chatty local crowd if you’re looking for new friends, good food, and chill vibes. It seemed that everyone in there was a regular but me. The staff knew exactly what people wanted without them having to ask. Imagine being the kind of person who could be a regular at breakfast? Sounds nice.
Mama’s Royal Cafe: Piedmontish. Mama’s is an Oakland staple that’s been open for decades and held out on taking credit cards until like two years ago. It’s the kind of place that features colorful hand drawn napkin art from customers on the wall. I only recently noticed, but the decor has Chinese themes, which leads me to wonder: was this once a Chinese restaurant? The internet couldn’t answer my question but maybe next time I go I’ll ask, or you could and let me know? The history of a place always adds a little value to my experience. Anyway, they are known for their omelets and have a plethora of options to choose from with fresh ingredients. Also, they do their home fries with sour cream which adds the appropriate fat content to get me over the line for breakfast. If the wait is too long, the neighborhood has lots of restaurants in walking distance like Clove & Hoof, Homeroom, Ohgane korean bbq, etc.
Millie’s: Located just off the 24 inside of an old house in lafayette. Given the location, you can assume there are lots of children. It’s an odd mix of families, construction workers, and teenagers talking about the football team, prom dates, and other hot topics that are fun to eavesdrop on. Do yourself a favor and order the coffee cake with the butter warmed on top. And also whatever is on special. The lines are out the door on weekends, so try to go during off hours. They’re open 7 days a week starting at 5:30 a.m.!
Montclair Egg Shop: Also a kid-filled zoo on weekends, but the staff is above-and-beyond accommodating and the breakfast is the right amount of greasy and filling. The restaurant gives off German ski chalet vibes, which is never a bad thing. This is one of the few places on this list with an actual website, which might hurt its ‘diner’ ranking, to be honest. The egg shop has been in Montclair for 40+ years. It was once part of a local chain of ‘egg shops’ but now feels like a nice solitary relic in a cute neighborhood. There’s usually a wait, but Montclair village has a small Sunday farmer’s market if you need somewhere to pass the time.
Ole’s Waffle Shop: Alameda mainstay. This place was a trip. As you might guess, they’re specifically known for their waffles, which are thin and almost crispy. The bacon is also great and they make hash browns. I’m not exactly sure if people are coming here for the food, the old school ambiance, the nostalgia, or just the friendly servers who have *great* nails and full eye makeup at 9 a.m., but it’s impressive to see the two line cooks firing on all cylinders in the open kitchen. Plus, they’ve been open since 1927 so clearly they know a thing or two about breakfast.
Sequoia Diner: The newest and most clean-feeling place on this list, Sequoia is a total hipster enclave that can frankly be just a little too tough to get into. But the food is all scratch-made and amazing, the vibe is retro, and the staff is fresh as all heck. Sequoia is on Macarthur blvd in Laurel district, which seems to be changing as it’s also now home to sf-transplant 4505 Meats.
Like to eat? So do I. Here are some other posts about eating around the east bay:
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