11 North Carolina Breakfast Spots Everyone’s Talking About (And Deserve The Hype)
Nothing beats starting your day with a mouthwatering breakfast at a beloved local hotspot, and in North Carolina, the morning dining scene has never been more exciting. In recent years, talented chefs and bakers have been crafting morning masterpieces that draw crowds before the sun is even up.
I’ve spent countless weekends crisscrossing the Tar Heel State in search of the fluffiest pancakes, flakiest biscuits, and most soul-warming cups of coffee you can imagine.
These 11 breakfast destinations aren’t just Instagram-famous—they deliver unforgettable flavors, cozy atmospheres, and the kind of meals that might just turn you into a lifelong morning person.
1. Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant: Southern Comfort in Raleigh
My grandmother would feel right at home at Big Ed’s, where cast-iron skillets sizzle with country ham and red-eye gravy just like she made. The ceiling decorated with antique farm tools tells stories while you wait for those famously fluffy biscuits.
Regulars know to order the hotcakes—bigger than your plate and perfect for soaking up blackstrap molasses. The staff remembers your name and coffee preference after just one visit.
Founded in 1989, this Raleigh institution stays packed with both lawmakers from the nearby capitol and families celebrating special occasions. Southern breakfast doesn’t get more authentic than this.
2. Biscuit Head: Asheville’s Biscuit Paradise
Standing in line at Biscuit Head on a crisp Asheville morning changed my breakfast standards forever. Their signature ‘cathead’ biscuits (named because they’re as big as a cat’s head) arrive steaming and ready for customization at their legendary jam bar.
I watched my son create a towering masterpiece with fried green tomatoes, eggs, and gravy that barely stayed upright. The kitchen somehow manages to accommodate everyone—gluten-free and vegan options taste just as decadent as the classics.
Pro tip: Get there early or prepare to wait, especially on weekends. The mimosa flight makes the wait worthwhile, though!
3. Eddie’s Place: Charlotte’s Breakfast Institution
Tucked into a shopping center in Charlotte, Eddie’s Place doesn’t look special from outside—but locals know better. Walking in one rainy Sunday morning, I found myself surrounded by families celebrating birthdays over plates of their legendary shrimp and grits.
The breakfast menu reads like comfort food poetry. Their benedicts arrive with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise made fresh daily. Even their coffee deserves special mention—rich and never bitter.
What keeps me coming back isn’t just the food but watching the owner greet regulars by name. After twenty years in business, they’ve mastered the art of consistency without sacrificing quality.
4. Elmo’s Diner: Durham’s Nostalgic Breakfast Haven
Stepping into Elmo’s feels like traveling back to a simpler time. Crayons and paper placemats await at every table—a touch my kids absolutely adore. The breakfast quiche changed my husband’s mind about “real men” and egg pies forever.
Servers balance multiple coffee pots while reciting the daily specials from memory. Their pancakes arrive impossibly fluffy, dotted with fresh blueberries that burst with each bite.
Duke students nurse hangovers alongside professors grading papers and families celebrating weekend traditions. After trying their homemade corned beef hash, I understood why this Durham cornerstone has thrived for decades despite flashier newcomers to the scene.
5. Early Girl Eatery: Farm-to-Table Morning Magic in Asheville
Morning sunshine streams through Early Girl’s windows, illuminating mason jars filled with wildflowers on each table. My first bite of their farm egg scramble revealed why this Wall Street gem remains Asheville’s go-to breakfast spot—ingredients harvested from nearby farms hours before reaching your plate.
Their shrimp and grits arrive swimming in tomato gravy that I’ve tried (and failed) to recreate at home. The biscuits achieve that perfect balance between flaky and substantial.
Owner Julie Stehling once told me their secret: relationships with farmers dating back to 2001 when farm-to-table wasn’t trendy—just the right way to cook. Those connections shine through in every bite.
6. The Kettle Diner: Jacksonville’s All-Day Breakfast Champion
“You haven’t had breakfast until you’ve had Kettle breakfast!” shouted a Marine at the next table during my first visit. He wasn’t wrong. This unassuming diner near Camp Lejeune serves portions that could fuel a training exercise.
Their country breakfast platter arrives with eggs cooked exactly as ordered, bacon crispy enough to shatter, and hash browns with the perfect crisp-to-soft ratio. The specials board changes daily but never disappoints.
What makes The Kettle special isn’t fancy techniques or trendy ingredients. It’s watching the cook flip pancakes while chatting with regulars, and servers who remember your order from last month. Good food served without pretension—breakfast as it should be.
7. Sunny Point Café: West Asheville’s Garden-to-Table Gem
The secret garden behind Sunny Point might be my favorite place in all of North Carolina. While waiting for a table (and you will wait), I wandered through rows of herbs and vegetables destined for my breakfast plate. Their huevos rancheros transformed my son from picky eater to adventurous foodie in one bite.
Everything here tells a story of thoughtful sourcing and preparation. The grits come from a mill just down the road. Jams and hot sauces are made in-house.
Families gather around mismatched vintage tables while dogs lounge on the patio. Watching chefs harvest herbs for your omelet moments before cooking creates a connection to your food rarely found at breakfast spots.
8. Breadmen’s Restaurant: Chapel Hill’s Historic Morning Staple
UNC alumni get misty-eyed when mentioning Breadmen’s pancakes. Since 1974, this Chapel Hill institution has fueled study sessions and soothed post-celebration headaches. My daughter’s college tour guide insisted we eat here—”It’s basically a UNC graduation requirement.”
The menu hasn’t changed much in decades. Their Carolina breakfast comes with country ham that’s salty, sweet, and impossibly thin. Hash browns are crispy on the outside, tender inside.
What strikes me most is the cross-section of Chapel Hill life that gathers here. Professors discuss literature alongside construction workers planning their day, while students furiously highlight textbooks. Some traditions deserve to continue forever—Breadmen’s is certainly one.
9. Dame’s Chicken & Waffles: Durham’s Sweet-Savory Sensation
The first time someone suggested chicken for breakfast, I laughed. Then I tried Dame’s signature crispy chicken atop a fluffy waffle, drizzled with their schmear (sweetened flavored butter) and maple syrup. My taste buds experienced a revelation that morning in downtown Durham.
Owner Damion “Dame” Moore created flavor combinations that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. The Orange Speckled Chabo pairs a classic waffle with orange-honeycomb schmear and chicken that’s somehow both juicy and crispy.
The weekend crowd includes everyone from suited professionals to families after church service. Come hungry and patient—perfection takes time, and these plates are worth every minute of the wait.
10. Smith Street Diner: Greensboro’s Biscuit Wonderland
“Holy biscuits!” escaped my lips when the server placed the plate before me. Smith Street’s legendary cat-head biscuits arrive golden-brown, steaming, and roughly the size of a softball. My southern grandmother would approve of these heavenly creations.
Beyond the biscuits, their breakfast menu shines with locally-sourced eggs and house-made sausage gravy that’s rich without being heavy. The coffee arrives in a thermal carafe so you never face an empty cup.
Greensboro residents pack this place daily, from business meetings to family gatherings. The no-frills atmosphere keeps the focus where it belongs—on food that makes you close your eyes with each bite to fully appreciate the flavors.
11. Baker’s Kitchen: New Bern’s Dutch Pot-Poured Pancake Paradise
Hidden in historic downtown New Bern, Baker’s Kitchen serves something I’d never encountered before—Dutch pot-poured pancakes that puff up like soufflés before deflating into custard-like perfection. My children’s eyes widened watching these golden creations arrive at our table.
Their signature butter syrup should be sold by the gallon. I’ve considered the drive from Raleigh just for a bottle. Everything feels homemade, from the corned beef hash to the buttermilk biscuits.
The 100-year-old building adds character with exposed brick walls and creaky wooden floors. Watching boats on the nearby Neuse River with a perfect cup of coffee and plate of Dutch pancakes might be the ideal way to start any Carolina morning.