A subregion of the Bay Area that roughly covers the Santa Clara Valley, Silicon Valley, and Santa Clara County in general, the South Bay is known the world over for being the epicenter of the the all things tech. But aside from a large concentration of companies that shape our daily lives — Apple, Facebook, and LinkedIn among others — there is plenty to discover here, especially when we’re talking about food. An abundance of culinary talent and warmer temperatures ideally suited for outdoor dining are among the draws, as is the variety of options. These are our South Bay Best Breakfast winners for 2023, selected by our editors — look for our readers’ choice winner, selected by our audience.
In and Around San Mateo
Jack’s Restaurant & Bar
1750 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo
Located off Highway 92, Jack’s Restaurant & Bar prides themselves on great service, great food, and a friendly atmosphere. Their Swedish Pancakes and Banana Foster French Toast are a must when going for breakfast, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on their extensive menu. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 8:30am to 9pm, Friday & Saturday 8:30am to 10pm ilovejacks.com
In and Around San Jose
Breakfast Club at Midtown
1432 W San Carlos St., San Jose
Make sure to have an appetite and patience when going to the Breakfast Club at Midtown, portions are large and lines tend to be long, but once you take a bite you’ll forget about every second you spent waiting. We recommend trying something both savory and sweet, like the Linguica Benedict and Red Velvet Pancakes. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7am to 2pm, Saturday & Sunday 7am to 3pm bcmidtown.com
Holder’s Mission City Grill
2000 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
Great service, endless coffee refills, and large portions are what you can expect at Holder’s Mission City Grill. Their omelet souffles are one of a kind and we highly recommend ordering one paired with crispy hash browns for an ideal start to your day. Hours are 8am to 8pm daily. holdersmissioncitygrill.com
In and Around Palo Alto
Bill’s Cafe
Multiple locations: San Jose, Palo Alto, Fremont, Pleasanton
From their savory Crab Cakes Benedict to their sweet Cookies & Cream Pancakes, you can’t go wrong with anything on Bill’s Cafe extensive breakfast and lunch menu. With large and “mini” portion sizes, Bill’s is likely to accommodate everyone’s taste buds and hunger levels. Hours are Monday through Friday 7am to 2pm, Saturday & Sunday 7am to 3pm billscafe.com
In and Around Los Gatos
Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission Street, Santa Cruz
831.429.1855
Over at this venerable Brazilian spot, you can have breakfast, brunch and lunch all day. Some of the most popular items include the hearty beef a cavalo — two eggs over easy on top of steak that’s laid over a slice of baguette topped with tomato and melted mozzarella cheese — and the feijoada completa, a bowl of black bean stew simmered with various sausages that’s served with a side plate with rice, farofa (a traditional Brazilian side dish made with toasted yuca flour or cassava flour), orange slices and sautéed greens. Utilize the Yelp waitlist as there’s usually a line. Hours are 8am to 3pm daily. cafebrasil.us
Los Gatos Café
340 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos
Los Gatos Café has quick service and large portions down to a T. They don’t take reservations, so you may have to wait, but not to worry because they move quickly. There are multiple dishes we could recommend from brunch classics like eggs Benedict to something more adventurous like Apricot French Toast, but we decided you can’t miss their French Pancakes — similar to crepes, but stuffed with savory ingredients, they are light but filling and delicious. Hours are 7am to 2:30pm daily. losgatoscafe.com
Moonside Bakery & Cafe
604 Main Street, Half Moon Bay
650.726.9070
Much like eggs shouldn’t be relegated to breakfast, pizza shouldn’t be excluded from it, and the folks here have gone big with this concept. While the menu features European-style staples like danishes, tarts, cakes and pies, you’ll also find an assortment of breakfast pizzas calling your name. The pizzas are prepared in a hardwood-fired pizza oven with freshly made pizza dough and are available after 9am. The mushroom comes with spinach and caramelized onions and should be honored with a trophy. Hours are 7am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday, 8am to 3pm Monday through Wednesday and Sunday. Closed Tuesday. moonsidebakery.com
The Press
107 Sevilla Ave, El Granada
650.726.9775
Bagels lovers need not look further, you’ll find the motherload tucked away in a tiny town next to Half Moon Bay — El Granada. Just the right amount of crispy and chewy, guests can’t get enough of the salmon and lox bagels here, which are topped with capers and onions. Veggie scrambles are another hit as well as the vast assortment of scones near the checkout which include cinnamon raisin, lemon rosemary, lavender blackberry and blueberry. Hours are 4am to 4pm Tuesday through Friday, 5am to 4pm on Saturday, 5am to 3pm on Sunday, and 4am to 3pm on Monday. thepressgrilledcheese.com
Southern Kitchen Coffee Shop
27 E. Main St., Los Gatos
Southern Kitchen Coffee Shop is a modest diner in Los Gatos, don’t judge a book by its cover on this one. Serving up American brunch classics with an old school vibe and welcoming atmosphere, Southern Kitchen will make you feel right at home. With endless coffee refills, extra-large omelets, and perfectly-cooked country potatoes, it’s easy to spend hours here. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 8am to 2pm, Friday 8am to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. southernkitchenlg.com
More Local Favorites in the South Bay
Who’s writing these?
Meet our always-hungry team of foodies who compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaways.com.
