Vancouver’s best weekday breakfast joints

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, which is why it’s key to know where to find toast, bacon and eggs just the way you like them, seven days a week. From diners to dives to fine dining, Vancouver has plenty of weekday breakfast spots where you can start your morning with a satisfied belly. [Photo courtesy of Cafe Medina]

Vancouver’s best weekday breakfast joints
Megan Lau By

Jam Cafe

1
556 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3

Breakfast is Jam Café’s jam! This beloved breakfast spot started in Victoria and jumped the Georgia Straight to open a new location the heart of downtown Vancouver in 2016. The feel at the Beatty Street haunt is cozy and casual, and the comfort-food-focused menu matches to vibe. With a Southern slant, the menu features all the breakfast go-tos, including Bennys, biscuits, pancakes, and chicken and waffles. Among the 30-plus menu options, you’re guaranteed to find your favourites.

Ovaltine Cafe

2
251 Hastings St E, Vancouver, BC V6A 1P2

Opened in 1943 and marked by its distinctive neon sign, the Ovaltine Cafe is one of the cornerstones of the Downtown Eastside. The iconic diner has changed hands over the years, but it’s remained a place for locals to get an affordable meal throughout the week. Even the gritty decor hasn’t changed much. The classic breakfast — two eggs, home fries, toast, and your choice of bacon, sausage, ham or grilled tomato — is a steal at just $5.99.

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Café Medina

3
780 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3A4

Long line-ups are part of the experience at Medina Cafe, one of the city’s buzziest breakfast spots even after almost a decade in business and having moved into a bigger space in 2014. Regulars are devoted to the lavender lattes and Liege-style waffles. In its new home on Richards, Medina has a fuller menu with plenty of inventive, Moroccan inspired breakfast delights and a comprehensive list of cocktails. Dishes like the breakfast paella and a spicy sausage and vegetable tagine come in hearty portions, and are always worth the wait.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Yolks Restaurant

4
546 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E9

Yolks cracked onto the Vancouver dining scene as a food truck and has now exploded into a true breakfast phenomenon. At its Broadway location, you’ll usually find a crowd eagerly waiting for a seat inside so they can feast on the eatery’s famous design-your-own eggs Benedicts. Diners craft their own varieties starting with a protein, a carb (a gluten-free option is available), and a topping — either hollandaise or aged cheddar. If you have room for dessert, the beignets are indulgent, but a must try.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Sonoko Morii

5
451W Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1R4

It feels like you’ve walked into someone’s home when you step in Marulilu Café, a Cambie Village favourite specializing in Japanese home-style cooking. Those in the area looking for a casual and affordable breakfast spot will also be very pleased with Marulilu’s options; the menu includes conventional breakfast combos (all between reasonably priced from $6 to $12) as well as Japanese inspired breakfasts featuring salmon, eggs, rice, and miso soup.

Nice Cafe

6
154 8th Ave E, Vancouver, BC V5T 1R7

After a night of crawling East Van’s craft breweries, the Mount Pleasant crowd heads to Nice Café for an unfussy hangover cure. Even though it’s a gathering spot for employees from the local tech companies, there’s an old-fashioned feeling to this greasy-spoon café at Main and 8th. The coffee is hot and bottomless, and the service is friendly but basic. Those with vegetarian or gluten-free diets will have plenty to choose from on the extensive breakfast menu of omelettes, Bennies, sandwiches and more.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bon's Off Broadway

7
2451 Nanaimo St, Vancouver, BC V5N 5E5

Bon’s is East Vancouver’s classic breakfast spot. It’s rough around the edges — the walls are plastered with posters, stickers and graffiti — but it has a special charm. Their famous $2.95 basic breakfast hasn’t changed its price for years; it’s the definition of cheap and cheerful. The people watching here is spectacular, too.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

ACME Cafe

8
51 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1G4

In Gastown, there’s no better place than Acme Café for an all-day breakfast during the workweek. There’s lots of choice when it comes to eggs: get them sunny side up, as a frittata, in a sandwich or in their signature Benny. The portions here are filling and the eggs are cooked in the oven, which means you’ll avoid the usual greasiness of diner breakfasts. Acme Cafe is also known for their delicious baked goods. Coffee and pie for breakfast, anyone?

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Bandidas Taqueria

9
2781 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4C5

For a departure from the conventional, breakfast lovers flock to Commercial Drive and post up at Bandidas. Breakfast and brunch options are available daily from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm, and there are lots of options to choose from. Bandidas specializes in Mexican and vegetarian cuisine, and they are known for their generous portions. Beans, cheese, guacamole, and tortillas (instead of toast) are big hits on the menu. If you’re bringing a big appetite, these breakfast burritos won’t disappoint.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Megan Lau Megan Lau
Megan Lau is the Digital and Content Strategist for YWCA Metro Vancouver. She always has 20 tabs open, searching for a great read, an inspiring idea, or compelling cause. Wherever Megan is in the world, you’ll find her on the hunt for a transcendent bite of food, a perfectly mixed cocktail, or a unique space to share a night with friends. At home, she is an enthusiastic cook and baker.
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