We’ve all been there: You’re craving bacon and maple syrup but roll up at your favorite spot a few minutes too late for breakfast. It’s a soul-sucking travesty. But for a moment, let’s dream a little bigger. You’re not alone if you’ve ever hankered for a stack of pancakes, fried eggs and crispy potatoes at 5 p.m. To help curb those yolky needs, we rounded up some of the best all-day breakfast spots in the city. And no, McDonald’s didn’t make the list.
Daley’s Restaurant
809 E. 63rd St. 773-643-6670
Hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Order this: Ask for the No. 3 with chicken wings ($16.75). You’ll get a crispy, melt-in-your-mouth Belgian waffle and five fried-to-order wings. If it’s eggs you need, go with the Denver omelette ($8.75), three eggs, minced ham, onion and green pepper served with your choice of hash browns, rice or grits and toast or biscuits. Of note: Waffles and grits aren’t available after 5 p.m.
Eleven City Diner
1112 S. Wabash Ave. 312-212-1112
Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Order this: The black and white challah French toast ($11.99) comes with white chocolate sauce, a drizzle of milk chocolate and pretzel dusting. If you’re not up for the sugar shakes, get the 3x frittata omelette ($12.50), three eggs, onion, mushroom and spinach topped with Swiss cheese and served with house potatoes and toast. Boasting longer hours than its North Side counterpart (2301 N. Clark St.), this South Loop staple is a sure bet for late-night munchies.
Elly’s Pancake House
101 W. North Ave. 312-643-2300
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Order this: You can’t go wrong with anything on this Old Town diner’s expansive menu, but if you have a sweet tooth, take the classic route with chocolate chip pancakes ($8.99). When hanger hits, order the Olé skillet ($11.49), which features a heavy dose of chorizo, jalapeno, onion, salsa, cheddar cheese and sour cream ($9.99).
Golden Apple Grill & Breakfast House
2971 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-528-1413
Hours: Open 24 hours daily
Order this: The Cordon Bleu omelette ($9.29) is stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, topped with hollandaise sauce and served with your choice of hash browns, fries or fruit and toast, tortillas or pancakes. Hint: Go for the pancake side if you’re really hungry.
Hash House A Go Go
1212 N. State St. 312-202-0994
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Order this: Go to the Gold Coast favorite on an empty stomach and get the sage fried chicken and waffles ($17). Two fried chicken breasts and smoked bacon are draped over a waffle tower and topped with hot maple reduction and a cloud of fried leeks.
Irazu
1865 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-252-5687
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m Monday through Saturday
Order this: Huevos Criollo ($9) includes scrambled eggs, diced veggies, plantains and beans and rice. Live a little and add an avocado to the mix ($1.50). Customizable breakfast burritos ($7 and up) are ideal for the meat eaters in your pack; add chorizo, steak or chicken ($3 each) to a base of pureed black beans, pico de gallo, scrambled eggs and guac. The Costa Rican eatery in Bucktown is cash-only, so make sure to have stacks on deck before you visit.
Johnny’s Grill
2545 N. Kedzie Blvd. 773-278-2215
Hours: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Order this: The 2×2 breakfast ($8) includes two eggs your way and a choice of two sides: Irish back bacon, American bacon, sausage, fruit, pancake, toast, English muffin, avocado or mushrooms. Leave room for made-to-order breakfast potatoes ($3) and a housemade pop tart ($3). You won’t regret it. If you like your late-night breakfast with a side of booze, head next door to mezcal bar Mezcaleria Las Flores, where you can order from the Johnny’s menu, too.
Little Goat Diner
820 W. Randolph St. 312-888-3455
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday
Order this: Fit for a king, the Fat Elvis waffles ($13) at Stephanie Izard’s West Loop diner are covered in bananas, peanut butter-butter and bacon-maple syrup. Or try something you won’t find on every other all-day breakfast menu: This Little Piggy Went to China ($14), a sesame-cheddar biscuit with sunny-side-up eggs, szechuan pork sausage, chili-garlic-chive sauce and blackberries.
Miss Ricky’s
203 N. Wabash Ave. 312-940-4777
Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Order this: The current “breakfast for dinner” menu is limited to just five options, but check back May 4 for new offerings. For now, you’ll want to order the lemon and thyme french toast ($16), challah bread covered in maple syrup with a side of sausage. Super-hungry diners will gravitate toward classic chicken and waffles ($21-$23), also served all day.
Nookies Tree
3334 N. Halsted St. 773-248-9888
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Order this: Because we all deserve nice things in life, go for the Paris Benedict ($13.99) at the Boystown brunch haven with additional locations in Old Town, Lincoln Park and Edgewater. Grilled brioche is topped with poached eggs, gruyere cheese, smoked bacon, grilled asparagus and truffle-chive cream. Plus, the BYOB policy makes it easy to enjoy bubbly without jacking up the bill. You’re welcome.
Steak ‘n’ Egger
1174 W. Cermak Road 312-226-5444
Hours: Open 24 hours
Order this: Trust in the name and order the Ribeye Steak N Eggers ($10.49), which includes two eggs, hash browns and toast with jelly or pancakes. Or get more bang for your buck with the 1-pound T-bone steak or half-pound skirt steak with three eggs, hash browns and toast or pancakes ($11.99 each).
Valois Restaurant
1518 E. 53rd St. 773-667-0647
Hours: 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Order this: This Hyde Park spot is serious about its cafeteria-style comfort food. Grab a tray and don’t think too hard; just get the steak and eggs ($9.95). The breakfast staple, which is also one of President Obama’s favorites, comes with two eggs, toast and your choice of hash browns, rice or grits. Swing by the ATM before you go to accommodate the cash-only policy.
Sara Amato is a RedEye designer and breakfast enthusiast.