The idea of brunch may not have originated in the sprawling city of Los Angeles, but it’s here that the iconic portmanteau truly hit its stride and became glorified as a weekend ritual. As easy as it is to stereotype and mock the feverish cult following that Los Angeles brunch culture has amassed, there’s no denying its irresistible allure.
Waking up with weekend breakfast plans might be the adult equivalent of waking up on Christmas Day: the giddiness, the simmering potential of what gastronomic gifts await, the smell of sizzling bacon jolting you out of bed. So without further ado, we present to you our favorite brunch spots in Los Angeles to bring you all the joy and happiness a perfectly buttery short stack can bring you. From decades-old classics to trendy new haunts, don’t miss out on these 20 hotspots — and scroll down to the bottom for a map showing all of our recommendations.
Secret Los Angeles relies on the team’s personal experiences, recommendations, editorial reviews, and customer feedback before choosing our favorite places to grab a bite or sip cocktails in LA. This list is constantly evolving, so please check back regularly.
1. République
Another brunch titan in Los Angeles, make République your next brunch visit if you’ve yet to experience its glory. This grandiose restaurant, café and bar located in the heart of the city is renowned for its handmade pastries and impeccably executed California-French cuisine. With a staunch commitment to seasonality, the menu changes depending on what ingredients are at their peak, but rest assured that whatever you order will be excellent.
The classic French omelette is a fan favorite and you’d be pressed to find a better croque madame in the city. We recommend the bold and hearty shakshouka that’ll leave you satisfied until dinnertime, alongside the umami-rich mushroom toast. Throw in an order of the brioche French toast to add a bit (a lot) of sweetness to the table and down it all with a freshly squeezed mimosa.
Recommended by Jamie Ferrell, Secret LA senior staff writer.
🍽️ Learn more: République
📍 Location: Miracle Mile • 624 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
2. Lady Byrd Café
Stepping into Lady Byrd Café in Echo Park feels like you’ve stumbled upon a whimsical portal in the middle of the city. This farm-to-table neighborhood café is most known for its enchanting “personal greenhouses” that perfectly fit a table for two. Surrounded by ivy and bougainvillea, you can dig into their delicious Spanish frittata and Monte Cristo sandwich while pretending you’re a character straight out of The Chronicles of Narnia.
Recommended by Ashlyn Davis, Secret LA staff writer.
🍽️ Learn more: Lady Byrd Café
📍 Location: Echo Park • 2100 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
3. Redbird
The stunning ambiance of Redbird makes it an ideal choice for special occasion brunches — think Mother’s Day, Easter, anniversaries, birthdays and any kind of celebration (or whenever you’re feeling indulgent). This upscale, Modern American restaurant located in a historic cathedral in DTLA puts seasonality at the center, spotlighting the bounty of California’s fresh and native ingredients. Dining beneath the sunlit arches of the main room is a treat unto itself, but the incredible menu will take you to a whole other world. Menu highlights include the brioche doughnut (said to be one of the chef’s favorites), cinnamon crunch French toast, short rib hash and Basque baked eggs.
Recommended by Sofía Delpueche, Secret LA staff writer.
🍽️ Learn more: Redbird
📍 Location: DTLA • 114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
4. Manuela
Manuela makes for a lovely addition to your day in LA’s Arts District. The bustling brunch restaurant shares a space with the famous Hauser & Wirth art gallery, which showcases rotating exhibitions throughout the year. Choose from an ample menu putting sustainably sourced, local Californian ingredients at the forefront, including the freshest produce, fish, and game. We’re partial to the pecan French toast with pomegranate caramel, but the venison burger is also a popular choice.
Recommended by Daniella Soltero, Secret Media Network senior project manager.
🍽️ Reservations: Manuela
📍 Location: Arts District • 907 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA
5. Hamburger Mary’s West Hollywood
If you’re seeking out an unforgettable drag brunch in Los Angeles, Hamburger Mary’s is the stuff of legend, especially for birthday celebrations. Prepare for a raunchy and hilarious high-energy performance from the city’s best drag queens, an experience that’s elevated with the addition of bottomless mimosas and classic American comfort food. Be warned that the performances are booked out pretty quickly, so make sure you make a reservation, and get a VIP table if you want to be right in front of the main stage. Drag brunch happens on Saturdays at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm; and on Sundays at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm.
Recommended by Sophie Len, Secret LA staff writer.
🍽️ Reservations: Hamburger Mary’s
📍 Location: West Hollywood • 8288 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
6. Poppy + Rose
Kick off your weekend by buying yourself a beautiful bouquet at The Original Los Angeles Flower Market in DTLA before heading next door to the undeniably cute brunch spot Poppy + Rose. Opened in 2014 by husband-wife duo Chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reedwith, this California-inspired American eatery features elevated brunch classics in a cozy, sunlit corner of the Flower District.
Seasonal ingredients take center stage at Poppy + Rose, where they pride themselves on creating everything from scratch — from the country biscuits and gravy to the pulled pork hash platter to the delectable fried chicken sandwich. The extra friendly staff, bright and airy space and delicious menu items make for a feel-good start to any weekend.
🍽️ Learn more: Poppy + Rose
📍 Location: DTLA • 765 Wall St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
7. Little Dom’s
Situated on the charming corner of Los Feliz Boulevard and Hillhurst Avenue sits everyone’s favorite neighborhood gem: Little Dom’s. This block of the city feels like a slice of Brooklyn, with sidewalk tables dotting the street and lush, tree-filled residential avenues bringing a distinct feeling of walkability to the area.
Little Dom’s is everything you could ask for out of a local brunch spot: a cool, laidback vibe, excellent coffee and a menu that boasts perfectly executed brunch classics like polenta and eggs, steak and eggs, some of the best house-made grilled Italian sausage I’ve had to date and their sinfully good ricotta cheese & fresh blueberry pancakes. If you’re looking to start your weekend on a comforting high note, Little Dom’s is your spot.
🍽️ Reservations: Little Dom’s
📍 Location: Los Feliz • 2128 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
8. Macheen at Distrito Catorce
If we had to choose a restaurant that embodies the rich culture, community and spirit of Los Angeles, it would be Distrito Catorce. Named after LA City Council District 14, an area that’s distinctly Latin American, this neighborhood gem situated in Boyle Heights was created to support and celebrate the vibrant community it’s a part of. From giving local artists a space to showcase and sell their work to opening up their kitchen to street vendors, owner Juan Jose Sanjuan III has made it his mission to create a collaborative space that uplifts the neighborhood.
Now to the brunch details: the space transforms into Macheen, a wickedly good brunch spot helmed by Chef Jonathan L. Perez, from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. If it sounds familiar, you may have seen him slinging his famous breakfast burritos at Smorgasburg LA every Sunday. The aforementioned burrito is a must, and if your stomach can handle it (we recommend rallying a group together so you can try it all family-style), don’t miss out on the pork belly chorizo burger. It’s as decadent and mouthwatering as it sounds.
🍽️ Learn more: District Catorce
📍 Location: Boyle Heights • 1837 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
9. The Serving Spoon
Saddling up to The Serving Spoon’s vintage wooden counter or cozying up in one of their red vinyl booths after a long night out is a rite of passage for every Angeleno. Open since 1983, this beloved Inglewood strip-mall diner will satisfy all your cravings for a soul food brunch in Los Angeles.
The plates come out quick and still sizzling and your coffee mug will consistently be full no matter how much you’ve consumed, quickly shaking you out of last night’s sleep-deprived stupor. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here, but we recommend keeping it classic with the Spooner breakfast: your choice of meat (don’t sleep on the hot links), two eggs, one side (you’ll want the homestyle potatoes) and bread. All of last night’s mistakes will magically disappear at the first bite.
🍽️ Learn more: The Serving Spoon
📍 Location: Inglewood • 1403 Centinela Ave, Inglewood, CA 90302
10. Jon & Vinny’s
No “best brunch” list in Los Angeles goes without the mention of Jon & Vinny’s, perhaps one of the city’s buzziest restaurants since its opening in 2015. The East-coast style Italian joint became world famous for their take on pasta classics and hand-tossed pizzas, but their brunch quickly became one of the hardest reservations to snag (although the hype has since died down eight years after opening and three new locations later).
You go to Jon & Vinny’s for the pies, so your brunch order will want to include the cult favorite Breakfast Pizza, a combination of yukon gold potatoes, red onions, rosemary, olive oil, parmesan and caciocavallo with a fried egg on top. And when they ask if you want to top it with bacon, make it a resounding yes. Pair that with their otherworldly buttermilk pancakes and you’ll have the perfect combination of savory and sweet to launch you into the weekend.
🍽️ Reservations: Jon & Vinny’s
📍 Locations:
- Fairfax • 412 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
- Slauson • 4400 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043
- Brentwood • 11938 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
- Beverly Hills • 456 N Bedford Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
11. All Day Baby
Breakfast reigns supreme at All Day Baby, where you can have brunch (you guessed it) all day. Opened in 2019 by the same team as Here’s Looking At You, All Day Baby brings a breakfast-first attitude to a corner of Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. Dig into the ADB Loco Moco, a Hawaiian classic that brings together teriyaki-glazed spam, breakfast sausage, rice, country gravy, a fried egg, scallions and black lime togarashi. Balance out that savory masterpiece with the ungodly All Day Baby Hotcake, a crispy-on-the-edges-fluffy-on-the-inside pancake that’s topped with ricotta, blueberry, pistachio and smoked maple. Consider it poetry in a pancake.
🍽️ Reservations: All Day Baby
📍 Location: Silver Lake • 3200 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
12. Escala
At the risk of sounding incredibly basic: Escala is a vibe. There’s really no other way to put it. Located on a busy stretch of Koreatown in the historic Chapman Plaza, this eclectic and lively space brings together the best of Colombian and Korean cuisines for delicious and unexpected mash-ups like the kimchi rice empanadas and the K-town rice con pollo.
Visit Escala on the weekend for a satisfying bottomless brunch complete with a DJ spinning ’90s hip hop throwbacks. Snag a seat next to the floor-to-ceiling windows for prime people-watching as you sip on your Blood Clot Mary (named for the Colombian chicharron that sits atop) and revel in the magic of the weekend.
🍽️ Reservations: Escala
📍 Location: Koreatown • 3451 West 6th Street Los Angeles, CA 90020
13. Casita del Campo
Casita del Campo is the cozy, family-friendly neighborhood spot of your dreams. A local fixture since 1962 (and worthy of historic landmark status in this notoriously transient city), this bright and colorful Mexican restaurant is the kind of place you long to be a regular at. Located on a quieter stretch of Hyperion Avenue in Silver Lake, this family-run spot serves some of the best Mexican breakfast fare in the city. The Silver Lake Breakfast Burrito is a menu stand-out, alongside the Huevos a la Mexicana with Chorizo. If you’re craving something sweet, the fresh hot churros with dulce de leche will never do you wrong.
🍽️ Reservations: Casita del Campo
📍 Location: Silver Lake • 1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
14. Dear Jane’s
If you’re looking for a quick escape from the city with beautiful views of the water, Dear Jane’s is your place. This classic seafood restaurant delivers a good dose of nostalgic charm, with white tablecloths, caviar service and roaming food carts full of seafood delicacies.
Indulge in a heaping seafood tower with oysters, clams, shrimp, lobster, stone crab claw and scallops while taking in the breathtaking views of the marina. And for the sweet side of things, we recommend the caramelized croissant and lemon ricotta pancakes. Dear Jane’s immortalizes a bygone type of hospitality that is well worth a visit.
🍽️ Reservations: Dear Jane’s
📍 Location: Marina del Rey • 13950 Panay Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
15. Spoke Bicycle Cafe
Spoke Bicycle Cafe is an ideal choice for those looking for a place a bit off-the-beaten path. This mellow outdoor café that doubles as a bike shop is situated right along the L.A. River, making it a perfect pit stop for those taking a long morning bike ride. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly simple menu — the food hits the spot in a deeply satisfying and homey kind of way. We recommend the Classic California Blat, a combination of heirloom tomato slices, lettuce, “special sauce,” avocado and applewood-smoked bacon (or a vegan alternative) all sandwiched between Bub and Grandma’s unbeatable sourdough bread.
🍽️ Learn more: Spoke Bicycle Cafe
📍 Location: Frogtown • 3050 N Coolidge Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039
16. Petit Trois Le Valley
Experience a delicious slice of Paris in middle of Sherman Oaks at the famed Petit Trois Le Valley. The second location of this celebrated French bistro is more spacious and a bit more lavish, but boasts the same mouthwatering menu as the original strip-mall location off of Melrose Avenue. Kick off your weekend with an order of beignets for the table, followed by the famed Omelette Petit Trois, an order of Smoked Salmon Tartine and the Croque Monsieur Sandwich. The truth is you can’t go wrong with anything at Petit Trois, so keep this spot bookmarked as you’ll want to return again and again until you’ve tried everything three times over.
🍽️ Reservations: Petit Trois
📍 Location: The Valley • 13705 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
17. Nick’s Cafe
Nick’s Cafe is as classic as diners get. Located just outside of Chinatown next to the Los Angeles State Historic Park, Nick’s has been slinging deliciously greasy diner food since 1948. The coffee is hot (and always on stand-by), the servings are extra generous, the French toast is thick and perfectly caramelized on the edges, the ham and eggs are weirdly addictive and the biscuits and gravy will knock you out for the rest of the day (in the best kind of way). With its old-school wrap-around counter, quirky memorabilia and lovable, unpretentious staff — Nick’s is perfect just the way it is.
🍽️ Learn more: Nick’s Cafe
📍 Location: Chinatown • 1300 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
18. Millie’s Cafe
Drive by Millie’s Cafe on a Saturday or Sunday morning and you’ll see a jam-packed sidewalk with a long line eagerly waiting to be sitting. Whether you’re a regular at Millie’s or you find it a bit overhyped, there’s no denying that this Silver Lake spot is somewhat of a brunch legend in Los Angeles. There are no bells and whistles at Millie’s: it’s easy, home-cooked comfort food that will leave you feeling satisfied and more than full. We like to keep it classic at Millie’s with the Country Fried Steak, a delicious steak smothered in country-style gravy served with potatoes, two eggs any style and toast. Service is fast, the staff is extra sweet and the buzzing energy of the space will instantly get you in the weekend mood.
🍽️ Learn more: Millie’s Cafe
📍 Locations:
- Silver Lake • 3524 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026
- Pasadena • 1399 E Washington Blvd Pasadena, CA 91104
19. Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is Highland Park’s treasured speakeasy-bar-turned-brunch-locale. Located in the back of the beloved 1920s-style Cafe Birdie, Good Housekeeping is packed on weekend mornings with friends and families rubbing shoulders in this bright and spacious outdoor patio. As a bar first, you can’t skip out on the delicious hand-crafted brunch cocktails. We opted for the Psychic Hand, a blend of amaras verde, chartreuse, supasawa, chareau and luxardo maraschino, and were blown away by the bright, nuanced flavor. Food-wise, the menu stand-outs are the crispy hash browns and the sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich.
🍽️ Learn more: Good Housekeeping
📍 Location: Highland Park • 5631 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
20. Lunasia Dim Sum House
When the dim sum cravings hit, Lunasia is there for you. With so many incredible dim sum spots across the city, it’s hard to choose just one (keep your eyes out for our round-up of dim sum spots coming soon), but Lunasia is one of the staples we find ourselves going back to again and again. The dim sum selection is diverse and never disappoints, and they’ve sprinkled in some more daring dishes to accompany the classics like the decadent caviar siu mai. Keep in mind that the ambiance here is pretty traditional and upscale, so if you’re feeling a little fancy, Lunasia is the perfect place to indulge.
🍽️ Reservations: Lunasia
📍 Locations:
- Alhambra • 500 W Main St Alhambra, CA 91801
- Pasadena • 239 E Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91101
- Cerritos • 11510 South Street C822, Cerritos, CA 90703
- Torrance • 2575 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505
21. John O’Groats
Every Angeleno is required to experience John O’Groats at least once in their lives. This adorably old-school restaurant is a venerable classic, with a heavy slate of regulars who have been coming here for decades. The food is exactly what you’d expect: fluffy pancakes, delicious biscuits and unfussy breakfast sandwiches that hit the spot every time. If you find yourself in West LA’s Rancho Park neighborhood, swing by John O’Groats for a comforting and delightfully homey brunch.
🍽️ Learn more: John O’Groats
📍 Location: Rancho Park • 10516 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
22. Bacetti
Last, but not least is Bacetti: a relatively new kind on the block situated in the heart of Echo Park that’s become a neighborhood darling since its opening 2021. This Italian trattoria is sleek and stunning, yet remains gracefully unpretentious.
The food speaks for itself, and we can’t recommend the rigatoni all’amatriciana pasta enough if you happen to find yourself there for dinner. But back to brunch. Go with a group of friends and share all three egg dishes: polenta, amatriciana and il grande. Trust us when we say you’ll want to do family style here; the menu is too appetizing to keep to one plate. And be sure not to miss the bombolini, their yeasted donuts filled with cardamom-rose pastry cream. It’s as heavenly as it sounds.
🍽️ Reservations: Bacetti
📍 Location: Echo Park • 1509 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
From Good Housekeeping’s heavenly breakfast sandwiches to Little Dom’s ricotta and blueberry pancakes, you really can’t choose wrong when seeking out the perfect brunch in Los Angeles. Keep these superb local restaurants on your radar and you’ll have somewhere to eat every single weekend. Where will you reserve a table first?
Edited by Jamie Ferrell