Where to find a great breakfast in the D.C. area
Fortunately, there are solid options around the area where you can feast on fluffy pancakes, greasy meats, extra large omelets and Belgian waffles. Here are six places where you can find all of these foods — and more — for less money than an overpriced brunch. Just be prepared to brave the lines.
Flip It LJ Diner
A “grand opening” sign sits outside of Flip It LJ Diner, but this small storefront has been a Columbia Heights gem for nearly three years. The menu offers a smattering of American, Mexican and Salvadoran dishes for breakfast. You can’t go wrong with one of Flip It’s hallmark specialties: the Flip It Burrito ($7.99). It’s packed with black beans, eggs and cheese, sprinkled with onions and green bell peppers, and wrapped in a lightly toasted flour tortilla; be sure to use the side of creamy, spicy chipotle sauce. For omelet lovers, Flip It’s shrimp omelet ($10.99) is a prime choice, served up with feta cheese, onions, tomatoes and green peppers.
Advertisement
Flip It usually has a wait on the weekends, but that is typically the only pain point you’ll encounter there. The food consistently manages to come out delicious and fast — and with sizable portions.
1432 Park Rd. NW. Breakfast served all day.
The Market Lunch
It’s a given you’ll find long lines at the Market Lunch during breakfast hours — after all, it’s been an Eastern Market staple since 1978. What’s surprising is how efficient this small space is. Once owner Tom Glasgow rings up your order at the register (cash only), a host will save a spot for you at the bustling communal table, sparing you the headache of staking out a seat like hunting prey in the wild.
On the Market Lunch menu, which includes breakfast and lunch, classics such as French toast, omelets and breakfast sandwiches coexist with such regional seafood favorites as crab cakes and fried local oysters. One of the headlining dishes is the blueberry buckwheat pancakes (full stack of three for $7.95, short stack of two for $6.25), which are fluffy, thick delights saturated with fresh bits of fruit — and should be eaten with real maple syrup.
Advertisement
Don’t just get the plain grits; instead, get the cheesy, spicy grits. Even if you’re afraid of a little heat, the jalapeño adds a welcoming and not-at-all intimidating kick to this outstanding dish.
Inside Eastern Market, 225 Seventh St. SE. Breakfast served until 11 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Steak-N-Egg
A 24-hour diner is something of a novelty in the District, and for several decades Steak-N-Egg in Tenleytown has been a saving grace for hungry night owls. The interior is tiny and unassuming, with just enough room for about a dozen bar stools.
Steak-N-Egg is known for its namesake, with offerings such as a tender eight-ounce steak ($18.99) to a 12-ounce T-bone ($21.99). The smaller steak is a solid choice for those who want to save room for some of the other menu items, such as the grits ($2.69). Not too soupy, not too lumpy, Steak-N-Egg’s grits deserve to be touted as much as the steak.
Share this articleShare4700 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Breakfast served all day.
Tony's Place
If you’re lucky, you might be able to get a counter seat at Tony’s on Kennedy Street NW on a busy weekend morning. Otherwise, you’ll most likely be taking your food to go and competing with the mad rush of delivery drivers who are picking up orders. It’s the reason getting food can be a bit of a wait, but if you’re patient, it’s worth it.
Advertisement
Tony’s has three locations around the District; a good place to start at the Kennedy Street outpost is the Hungryman’s Platter ($6.09), which offers all the breakfast staples: two buttery stacks of pancakes, a sausage patty that tastes even better slathered in mumbo sauce, bacon, eggs cooked to your liking and home fries that are delicately crisped on the edges.
Three locations: 622 Kennedy St. NW; 1401 H St. NE; 1400 Good Hope Rd. SE. Breakfast served all day.
Parkway Deli and Restaurant
Parkway is Silver Spring’s answer to a classic New York-style Jewish deli. The menu at the venerable restaurant, which has been open since the ’60s, has page after page of such offerings as challah French toast (two for $5.45 or three for $6.55), slathered with rich cinnamon sugar and warm syrup, and a large assortment of smoked fish.
Advertisement
The potato pancakes (four for $4.75 or 10 for $7.95) are another highlight, cooked as crispy patties and served with sour cream and applesauce, and the spicy chorizo sausage egg wrap ($8.45) is another fine option that’s blanketed in gooey Jack cheese and sprinkled with red and green peppers. And, while you’re waiting for your food, head to the free pickle bar and stock up on dill pickles, sour pickles, bread-and-butter pickles and other varieties.
8317 Grubb Rd., Silver Spring. Breakfast served all day.
Bob and Edith's Diner
Across the bridge in Northern Virginia, Bob and Edith’s keeps its doors open 24 hours a day. The family-owned restaurant, which has been in operation for over 50 years, looks like a relic of a bygone era — retro-looking booths and vintage photos of old cars and cityscapes decorate its Crystal City location (one of four, with a fifth on the way).
Advertisement
For breakfastgoers, Bob and Edith’s walnut waffle ($8.29) is an essential order; it’s light and airy on the inside and studded with chunky walnuts. In terms of sides, the corned beef hash ($5.99) is a standout, perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The menu also offers up a wide range of egg and meat combinations that include a hamburger and chicken tenders (Hey, they can be good for breakfast) that defy the standard bacon and sausage pairings.
2310 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 539 S. 23rd St., Arlington; 5918 North Kings Hwy., Alexandria; 6316 Springfield Blvd., Springfield. Breakfast served all day.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLSwtc2gpq6sl6q2pbGOb2SsqJ%2BpwG6yzqtksKCVo3q6u9SrnGahnmLBqbGMpqaonF2bvLN5wGafnpmiqcZurtGemKSekajBbnnNqKtmmqKqu6S0jmtna2hfZX5wfZRoZ5yckpiCpICMbGqbnV1mfqatjHJon5xdbX%2BlgMRpa5prlpawoL%2FTqKmyZpipuq0%3D