Breakfast in the GTA incl. TORONTO! (Updated 08/21/10)

[nitroblu]

To quote the wise (though fictional) Ron Swanson "I'm a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food." And the equally hilarious Leslie Knope said it best "Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?"

Keep the suggestions coming, especially for Mississauga, Brampton, and Vaughan! Please add a brief review (just a few lines) about the food quality and taste, service, ambiance, and anything that stands out on the menu. Updates to reviews are also always appreciated!

This is a compilation list of breakfast places in the GTA, mainly the York and Peel regions. I am currently adding the city of Toronto, but due too the large scale, I need some help first (and then lots of suggestions/reviews!). My goal is to compile a list that is as complete and helpful as possible. I put a lot of effort setting this up, and I always appreciate the feedback. I've made a new thread so its possible for further expansion, because the list grew too long for the first post in the last thread, and now I'm also including Mississauga and Brampton (and other areas)!

I have colour-coded the restaurants according to location, for easier searching, especially for in the mornings when you're still groggy or just stumbled home from a late night out. I've also divided locations by post for better organization. Markham (and Stouffville) locations are in blue, Richmond Hill (and Aurora and Newmarket) locations in green, Thornhill locations in orange, Vaughan (includes Concord and Woodbridge) locations in red, Brampton locations in brown, Mississauga locations in purple, and Toronto locations in light blue (separated into Etobicoke & North York, Scarborough, and Downtown core).

[nitroblu]

Bluestone Bistro - 4261 Highway 7 (Kennedy & Hwy 7)
In a strip plaza, inside is much nicer than the outside. Has small "patio" in the back overlooking a parking lot. Breakfast ranges from eggs to waffles/pancakes, eggs benedict, and skillet meals. Prices on par with Coras. Cool thing about ordering coffee, they give you an insulated flask so you don't have to wait around for a waiter to refill. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

Apple Jacks Restaurant - 5328 Highway 7 (McCowan & Hwy 7)
Same plaza as Factory Direct. Cheaper than Coras but then you barely get any fruit; similar pricing to Shopsy's. Solid breakfast items except for the eggs benedict, had it once, the poached eggs were rubbery, ewww. Quality is half decent. Overall good value. Huge plates of food, good service, but unsatisfying. Dry omelettes and homestyle fries may be frozen tater tots; you have a choice between fries and fruit. Pancakes were fluffy & delicious though. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500, & Melfice, evoviii, afici0nad0, & charliebrown]

Artisan Pub - 48 Main St. N (Main St. & Hwy 7)
Patio out front. Live band in the summer on weekends. Good food. Has fruit with breakfast. All day breakfast but a limited breakfast menu. Weekends has breakfast specials on the board - waffles, pancakes, etc. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

Uncle Joe's Diner - 124 Main St. N (Main St. & Hwy 7)
Good value, cheap, good size portions, friendly service. Your basic diner food. Tasty pancakes. Kinda dark inside. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500, & charliebrown]

Phoenix Restaurant - 1 Raymerville Dr. (McCowan & Raymerville)
7155 Woodbine Ave. (Woodbine & Steeles; 2nd location)
Hong Kong breakfast. Cheap. Busy but quick turnover. Breakfast items can seem weird if you're not used to it, ie., tuna sandwich with oatmeal. No fruit to be seen. Thick toast with condensed milk YUM! Breakfast combos end at 10am. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

Cora's - 3760 Hwy 7 (Warden & Hwy 7)
Fruit! Extensive breakfast menu. Noticed their potato portions getting smaller and smaller, last time I only got about 4 pieces, WTH? I love their potatoes. Somewhat expensive, but I guess that is due to the fruit. Sometimes the fruit is not that ripe. Long waits and no reservations. Go really early or go late. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

Milestones - 3760 Hwy 7 (Warden & Hwy 7)
Nicer ambiance than Cora's. They put house salsa on their potatoes. Small breakfast menu. Has "eggspresso" - eggs done on their expresso steamer. Priced like Coras but smaller portions - less fruit. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

Livingwater Restaurant Cake Gallery - 139 Main St. (Main St. & Hwy 7)
About 13 different items on the menu, including the basics thru to Waffles, pancakes, French toast. Good size portions, good food. Friendly service. Quiet. Interior is tired and dated - peeling wallpaper, needs new paint. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

EggXperts - 5812 Main St. (Main St. & 9th Line)
Newish place. Friendly service. I think it's family owned. Good value. $4.99 includes 3 eggs + meat + home fries + toast. Serviceable Eggs Benedict. One major downside - small, almost paper thin slivers of fruit. Interesting omelettes: Mexican, Greek, Salmon, Goat Cheese. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

Tonia's Breakfast Grill - 72 Copper Creek Dr. (9th Line & 407; Boxgrove plaza)
Had the eggs benedict. Ewww...the hollandaise had the texture and taste of mayo. Muffin was soggy. Home fries were powder garlicky or something. This combo with the eggs benedict just churned my stomach. Mr. Kitty's regular breakfast was OK though. They have breakfast specials - $4.99 before 10am. [Big thanks to fortunekitty500]

T & T Bakery - 35 Main St. N (Main St. & Hwy 7)
Eggs, bacon, pancakes, waffles, though breakfast items are limited. It's a small bakery style setting and it does get quite full daily, especially on the weekends. Sort of self-service. You go up to the counter and order, but they'll bring you the food that needs to be heated. [Thanks to jglkitty25 & fortunekitty500]

Shopsy's Deli - 7240 Woodbine Ave. (Woodbine & Steeles)
Prices at Shopsy's are middle of the road. Not as expensive as Cora's but not as cheap as a mom and pop diner. Shopsy's selection isn't great either but they have the usual suspects. I usually order a basic breakfast - I order the "Torontonian" which comes with 1 egg, sausage/bacon/ham and homefries. It's around $4.50. Coffee is extra. Check out their menu. [Thanks to cchiu]

Skyway Jack's Restaurant - 820 Denison St. (Denison & Warden)
Food isn't bad but the service is a little slow on the weekends. There are 2-3 people who work there on the weekends. If you go on the weekends don't expect fast service. But overall as a breakfast place its pretty good. [Thanks to bossini]

Milliken Restaurant - 7725 Birchmount Rd. (14th Ave. & Warden)
They serve all-day breakfast and it is cheaper if you get there before 10am I believe. Its a small little place in the commercial building section. Its cheap and you will get stuffed. [Thanks to kingkao & lowrider_62]

Pickle Barrel - 110 Denison St. (Hwy 7 & McCowan; Markville Mall)
All day breakfast is good. Love the black forest ham/brie cheese omelette with a smoothie. Not recommended to eat the included fruit after breakfast hours, seems like they just leave it out all day so it gets all dried up. Menu found here: http://www.picklebarrel.ca/content.php?page=6 [Thanks to molala & mic2074]

FireFly Seafood & Steak House - 3229 Hwy 7 (Woodbine & Hwy 7; First Markham Place)
Recently added "Chinese Breakfast." They offer a lot of food options from toast and omelette to soup noodles. Decent Food. Wonderful ambiance and eclectic interior decor (unlike typical Chinese breakfast joints). Large LCD TV for your enjoyment (though usually on Chinese channel). Service has gotten a much slower lately. Menus do have English. [Thanks to icyfire]

Eggsmart - 4681 Hwy 7 E (Kennedy & Hwy 7)
Check Richmond Hill location for review.

Main's Mansion - 144 Main St. N (Main St. & Hwy 7)
Breakfast/brunch on weekends only - great tasting sausages & huge portions (granted, price is comparable to Cora's). Check out their menu. [Thanks to charliebrown]

Golden Griddle - 7100 Woodbine Ave. (Woodbine & Steeles)
Standard greasy spoon fare - it doesn't get any greasier than Golden Griddle. All-day breakfast, brunch buffet available starting at 8am on weekends only. Quality varies by the time of day depending on who's cooking. When it gets bad, it gets grimy. They serve alcohol too. [Thanks to nitroblu]

Wimpy's Diner - 2900 Steeles Ave. E (Don Mills & Steeles)
Check Richmond Hill location for review.

[nitroblu]

3 Coins - 10140 Yonge St. (Yonge & Major Mac)
Open Tues-Sun, 7:00am-3:00pm, closed on Mon. The interior is like a 40's diner, it has the same 25 cent jukebox as in Wimpy's, simple decor, but it's clean. A local's type diner where everyone knows everyone. Small, sitting only about six booth styled tables, plus about 6 seats at the counter where you can watch Henry cook. The service is quite good (one waitress during Tues-Fri), very personal and attentive. For $8.95, you get a decent sized steak, 3 eggs, 2 slices of toast, 2 coffee's (or more), a mound of home fries, a few slices of tomato and a slice of orange. [Thanks to talktwo]

Eggsmart - 700 Elgin Mills Rd. E. (Bayview & Elgin Mills)
155 East Beaver Creek Rd. (Leslie & Hwy 7; 2nd location)
Recently opened, so it's pretty clean. Has 2 big LCDs (at Elgin Mills location), but above average prices. Friendly service but a bit slow. Pancakes need some work - think McD's pancakes but drier. They have an early bird special from Mon-Fri until 9am where you get 3 eggs, side of bacon, ham or sausage, and home fries and toast for $3.99. Also have all day specials from $4-6 depending on the day: omelette combo (Mon), AYCE pancakes (Tues), French toast (Wed), grilled chicken wrap combo (Thurs), fish & chips (Fri). [Thanks to Coolers & nitroblu]

Wimpy's Diner - 10800 Bayview Ave. (Bayview & Elgin Mills)
14834 Yonge St. (Yonge & Henderson Dr.; 2nd location)
416 Davis Dr. (Davis Dr. & Main St.; 3rd location)
Good breakfast place and great atmosphere, feels like a real 50s diner with some updates. Moderate portions, generally good food. Eggs, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausages, etc. There is also an early bird special menu, items are less than $5 before 11 AM. Prices are similar to Denny's at regular price ($7-9 range), though the French toast is nowhere as thick or nice. The milkshakes are nice and thick and worth every penny, but it unfortunately it depends on the server who makes it. Friendly service. All-day breakfast menu. [Thanks to JAGpilot & nitroblu]

Cora's - 10909 Yonge St. (Yonge & Elgin Mills)
Check Markham location for review. French toast has noticeably gotten worse (small size, very burnt) and fruit portions are smaller. Portions have gotten smaller in general, omelettes were noticeable smaller. A friend had at most 2 eggs when he ordered 3 eggs scrambled. Slow, inattentive service: orders were forgotten and it wasn't even busy and waitress walked away three times while taking orders and refreshing drinks. [Thanks to nitroblu]
16 Vogell Rd. (Leslie & 16th Ave.; 2nd location)
Service is much better at this location than Yonge and Elgin Mills, very fast and friendly. Portion sizes that Cora's is known for. Also a bit cleaner since this location is newer. Highly recommend this location over the other Richmond Hill location. [Thanks to nitroblu]

Sunset Grill - 11710 Yonge St. (Yonge & 19th Ave.)
Great experience. The Eggs Benedict was the best I've had in a long time. They use fresh Yukon potatoes. Patio and Free Internet here was nice. Great Orange Juice. Very clean washrooms! Good place for families. Good Value. Open 6:30am on weekends and 7am on weekends.[Thanks to foody101]
1500 Elgin Mills Rd. E (Leslie & Elgin Mills; 2nd location)
Bright and busy on weekends. Lots of large groups. Not the cheapest but cheaper than Cora's. Large portions. The French toast is huge and comes in 3 pieces. Skip the "supremes" though, they're rather lackluster. Very friendly and welcoming staff. I recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable, home style breakfast! [Thanks to aw3s0me, melanie66, & fortunekitty500]
676 Wellington St. E (Bayview & Wellington St.; 3rd location)

[nitroblu]

Centre Street Deli - 136 Centre St. (Bathurst & Steeles)
Busy. Large portions. Decent value. If you don't want breakfast they have smoked meat sandwiches....yummy. [Thanks to fortunekitty500]

Kiva's Bagel Bakery - 1027 Steeles Ave. W (Bathurst & Steeles)
It's always busy, the food isn't cheap and it's setup like a Jewish-style bagel/eggs place, no pork but its not kosher (reminds me of the style of New York off of West 47th). Loud kitchen and the people in there will have you entertained the whole time. [Thanks to Allan edwards]

Wimpy's Diner - 8123 Yonge St. (Yonge & 407)
Check Richmond Hill location for review.

Fry Basket Fish & Chips - 7057 Yonge St. (Yonge & Steeles)
Huge cheap all day breakfasts. Standard greasy-spoon fare: Eggs, sausage or bacon, toast, hashbrowns, and coffee or tea, for $6. Came with 3 eggs and about 5 or 6 sausages (or pieces of bacon). High cholesterol, but great for an indulgence or a hangover recovery meal. Quiet little place, really down to earth. They have other diner-type stuff and fish and chips too. [Thanks to jerrysiz]

[nitroblu]

Eggsmart - 8545 Hwy 27 (Langstaff & Hwy 27)
Check Richmond Hill location for review.

Sunset Grill - 8280 Highway 27 (Langstaff & Hwy 27)
3255 Rutherford Rd. (Jane & Rutherford; 2nd location)
1430 Major Mackenzie Dr. (Major Mac & Dufferin; 3rd location)
Check Richmond Hill location for reviews.

Cora's - 8401 Weston Rd. (Weston & Langstaff)
Check Markham location for review.

Golden Griddle - 211 Marycroft Ave. (Pine Valley Dr. & Hwy 7)
Check Markham location for review. Brunch buffet starts at 8:30am at this location.

Wimpy's Diner - 20 Rivermede Rd. (Centre St. & Hwy 7)
200 Edgeley Blvd. (Jane & Hwy 7)
Check Richmond Hill location for review.

[nitroblu]

Cora's - 9045 Airport Rd. (Airport Rd. & Queen St.)
17 Ray Lawson Blvd. (Hurontario & 407)
Check Markham location for review.

Giggling Tomatoes - 283 Queen St. E (Queen St. & Kennedy) FURTHER REVIEW NEEDED.
360 Parkhurst Square (Steeles & Airport Rd.; 2nd location)
90 Pertosa Dr. (Chinguacousy Rd. & Bovaird Dr.; 3rd location)
2280 Bovaird Dr. (Mississauga Rd. & Bovaird Dr.; 4th location)
Giggling Tomato is all about cheap, cheap, cheap. Reported by JordanN that the food tastes fresh. They have an all-day breakfast menu with decent prices, starting at $5. They serve up 3 eggs with all their breakfast dishes and have a list of just omelettes. Check out their menu. [Thanks to duckdown & nitroblu]

Sunset Grill - 10025 Hurontario St. (Hurontario & Bovaird Dr.)
Check Richmond Hill location for reviews.

Golden Griddle - 7694 Hurontario St. (Hurontario & 407; City South Plaza)
Check Markham location for review.

Denny's - 2452 Queen St. E (Queen St. & Airport Rd.)
Check Mississauga location for review.

Wimpy's Diner - 9025 Torbram Rd. (Torbram Rd. & Queen St.)
Check Richmond Hill location for review.

Stacy Lee's Family Restaurant - 4 McLaughlin Rd. S (Queen St. & Main St.) FURTHER REVIEW NEEDED.
Hangover cure spot. Customer-rated one of the best diners in Brampton. All day breakfast with all the usual stuff: hash browns, Belgian waffles, pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, orange juice, etc. [Thanks to duckdown]

[nitroblu]

Denny's - 40 Courtneypark Dr. E (Hurontario St. & 401)
Serves exactly what its reputation is known for: hardy American breakfast fare. All-day breakfast, opened 24/7, it doesn't get better than that. Prices are pretty high, averaging $9-12 per meal, but the portion size matches. Home fries aren't the greatest, but if you're really hungry, it won't matter. Nice thick French toast, and pancake stacks that only a US franchise can bring. Standard breakfast items, but the Grand Slam is a big favourite for obvious reasons: stack of pancakes, 2 eggs, and bacon and sausage. They also serve beer after midnight! [Thanks to nitroblu]

Cora's - 1865 Lakeshore Rd. W (Lakeshore & Southdown)
4120 Dixie Rd. (Dixie & Burnhamthorpe Rd. E; 2nd location)
6720 Meadowvale Town Centre Circle (Winston Churchill & Derry; 3rd location)
Check Markham location for review.

Golden Griddle - 1500 Matheson Blvd. (Matheson Blvd. & Dixie)
Check Markham location for review.

Sunset Grill - 3021 Argentia Rd. (401 & Winston Churchill)
2901 Eglinton Ave. W (Eglinton & Winston Churchill; 2nd location)
102 Lakeshore Rd. W (Lakeshore & Mississauga Rd.; 3rd location)
Check Richmond Hill location for reviews.

Daylight Grill - 980 Southdown Rd. (Southdown Rd. & Lakeshore)
Basically identical to Sunset Grill in menu and ambiance. A typical breakfast order might be $.50 less than the equivalent at Sunset Grill. In the same plaza as Chorizo Burrito. [Thanks to stealth & duckdown]

Peter's On Eglinton - 1035 Eglinton Ave. E (Tomken Rd. & Eglinton)
2 words: massive portions. Also a really diverse menu, not just breakfast, but great smoked meat sandwiches as well as Italian food. Nice but kind of dated decor - think high class steak house circa 1988. [Thanks to stealth]

[nitroblu]

Wally's Grill - 123 Rexdale Blvd. (Kipling & Rexdale)
All day breakfast, they are open till 10 to 11PM depending on the night. Pretty good steak and eggs. Price is average, from $5-12 depending on what you get. Tastes like home cooking. Pretty good burgers too. [Thanks to kaioshinkidd]

Sizzling Jaks - 1599 The Queensway (427 & The Queensway)
They have all day breakfast and don't close on Fridays and Saturdays, open till 11PM the rest of the week. Their breakfast stuff is decent, nothing out of this world, but if you want a breakfast fix at 4AM on a Friday night, not too many places to go to in Etobicoke. Prices are from $5-12ish as well. Pretty good burgers too. [Thanks to kaioshinkidd]

[nitroblu]

reserved for scaroborough

[nitroblu]

reserved for downtown core

[moommen]

do you, or anyone else know any hidden gems in Scarborough?

[m0cha]

do you, or anyone else know any hidden gems in Scarborough?

Not sure if you can call it a hidden gem, but I enjoy breakfast at Markham Station. It's located at the corner of Markham & Sheppard.

[drizzz]

Great list, thank you!

hmmm... Brampton in the brown text?

[moommen]

Great list, thank you!

hmmm... Brampton in the brown text?

lol i was laughing at that too. Great list!

[Marmite]

do you, or anyone else know any hidden gems in Scarborough?

Wexford @ Warden & Lawrence, well known so not really a hidden gem.