Read more: The Definitive Guide to Breakfast in Chicago
BEST PANCAKES: Masa pancakes at Dove’s Luncheonette
Restaurant flapjacks tend toward a cloying more-is-moreness. This Tex-Mex short stack is the antidote. Served with a complex mole maple syrup and butter whipped with agave, the masa-scented, griddled-dark cakes leave sweetness for a grace note instead of a bludgeon. $14. 1545 N. Damen Ave., Wicker Park
— Cate Huguelet
BEST FRENCH TOAST: Guava French toast at Caribella
At this Caribbean spot, the guava is added three ways. Slices of Texas toast are soaked in batter containing guava marmalade, cooked until lightly browned, then drizzled with a housemade guava syrup and finished with a dollop of whipped cream and slices of, yes, fresh guava. $15. 3311 W. Fullerton Ave., Logan Square.
— Lisa Futterman
BEST BELGIAN WAFFLE: Belgian waffle at Tre Kronor
A textural treat, with a thin grid giving way to an airy interior, the subtle malty-flavored waffle holds its own against a generous crown of sliced banana, fresh berries, and whipped cream. It stays crisp to the last piece. $15. 3258 W. Foster Ave., North Park
—Carly Boers
BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO: Breakfast burrito at Taqueria Chingón
The eight-inch flour tortilla, smeared with refried beans, is stuffed with a wedge of fluffy soufflé-style egg, housemade chorizo verde, kicky pico de gallo, and a crisp hash brown. The crowning touch that elevates the burrito to icon status: It’s rolled in grated cheese and griddled for a crispy, lacy exterior. $8. 817 W. Fulton Market, West Loop
— Lisa Shames
Huguelet, Futterman, Boers, and Shames are freelance writers for Chicago magazine.
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From: The Definitive Guide to Breakfast in Chicago