I love breakfast—anywhere, anytime. There are few things that can get me out of bed early on a weekend morning than knowing there is a good breakfast on the horizon (with the exception of hiking, of course). Some people (and I’m looking at my husband here) could care less about breakfast and would be happy with a bowl of Cheerios every morning. I, however, feel that it is by far the most important meal of the day (even when I choose to have it for dinner).

So that begs an important question…

What makes a breakfast good?

Quality ingredients are key, and so is the preparation. Something as basic as eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast should be simple, right? It’s not. I realize that everyone has different preferences on how they like their eggs, but since this is my blog, I rate my breakfasts on whether I can get a perfectly fried, sunny-up, or over-easy, egg  with no runny whites. My eggs, above all, are the most important piece of my breakfast.

Bacon is something else that is very dear to my heart, and it floors me how often I’m served thin, under- or overcooked bacon. In my world, I’m looking for a thick-sliced bacon that has a hint of smoke that has been cooked long enough so that the fat has rendered and cooked through, but not so long that I feel like I’m chewing on shoe leather.

Hashbrowns can also make the difference between a spectacular breakfast and a not-so-good breakfast. How hard is it to properly season and cook potatoes? Apparently, it can be challenging for many restaurants. I’m not a big fan of the frozen hashbrowns, but I’ll still take them over under-seasoned or under-cooked fresh potatoes. I like when my hashbrowns are fried in onions, and are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

But there is an even more important question…

Where does one find the best breakfast in Edmonton?

This is not a simple question to answer because it really depends on what you are looking for. I’ve found that I have a few favourites. I’m not sure if you’ll agree but if you haven’t been to these places, I do suggest you go.

Best eggs benedict – New York Bagel Cafe

Hands down, this one goes to New York Bagel Cafe. While the service leaves something to be desired, the food is incredible and always prepared from scratch. They have over 15 types of benedicts to choose from that are served on a choice of bagel types. NYBC also has the best breakfast potatoes that I’ve ever had. The hashbrowns are always perfectly cooked and seasoned. You can also expect more than 1 slice of orange or melon with your breakfast; they do a wonderful array of melons, berries and other unusual fruit. The restaurant is quite small so if you want to have brunch here on the weekends, you’re best to arrive before 10am otherwise it can be quite the wait to get a table.

Best drunk brunch – Ampersand 27

Yes, drunk brunch is a thing. There is something about having a perfectly crafted cocktail with your breakfast and Ampersand 27 has this one down pat. The only breakfast item I have tried here is the Corn beef hash with duck fat potatoes and onions, topped with a poached egg and hollandaise. It is so delicious that I can’t even fathom eating anything else when I visit. My only suggestion is to add-on an extra poached egg (or two). They offer 3 basic breakfast cocktails, but will serve from the full cocktail list so make sure that you ask for this–you won’t be disappointed!

Best breakfast chain – Ricky’s Grill

My husband and I can definitely agree on this one–Ricky’s Grill. My husband has a love affair with the chorizo brekkie bowl that I don’t think I will ever understand but he swears by it and always suggests Ricky’s when we want to go out for breakfast. Ricky’s is where I want to go when I want the classic greasy spoon bacon and eggs. I’m all about variety and always want a little bit of everything but the “big” breakfast is way too much food for me to eat. Ricky’s Grill has a dish they call Two by Five which is perfect for me: Two eggs, two pieces of bacon, two sausages, two buttermilk pancakes and two pieces of toast. We also find that no matter what time we show up, it’s never too long of a wait for a table.

Best Sunday brunch – Hotel MacDonald

Without a doubt, if you are looking for a great Sunday brunch, head to the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald in the Empire Ballroom. It’s pricey but worth every penny. They have over 50 items to choose from and a crepe, omelette and carving station. When I think of omelettes, this is right where I want to be. You will want to plan ahead if you’re thinking about Sunday brunch here. They offer a few seatings and reservations are highly recommended. You’ll also want to leave your yoga pants at home. You won’t have to dress to the nines, but “smart casual” is what the suggested dress code is.

Best overall brunch – Canteen

Canteen has been a breakfast favourite of my husband and I since they opened. Owned and run by the same folks as Red Ox Inn, you know that the food is going to be good. You aren’t going to find your classic bacon and eggs here, but you will find an incredible choice of brunch selections. My favourites are the pork belly with sweet potato, cheesy grits, fried egg and toast and the beef brisket hash with cheese, fried eggs, tomatoes and toast. My husband usually goes for the chicken and waffles, which changes weekly, and he rarely leaves a crumb on the plate. Canteen can be pretty busy on the weekends so I recommend that you make a reservation.

Best bacon – The Local Omnivore

The Local Omnivore makes their own bacon, double smoking it with love before they cook it, or sell it in their deli. I haven’t been to their food truck or restaurant before but I have purchased their bacon on numerous occasions to cook at home. It’s wonderful, especially when drizzled with a little bit of maple syrup.

Best omelette – The Marc

The Marc is not open during the day on Saturday and is closed on Sundays but if you find yourself craving an omelette during the week, this is the place to go. Every day The Marc offers an Omelette of the day as one of their lunch features (they aren’t open for breakfast). I had the opportunity to try their steak and arugula omelette recently and it was delicious. The egg was perfectly cooked and the omelette was perfectly seasoned. I honestly could have eaten two of these.

I know that there are a lot of great breakfast places out there that I haven’t been to yet, and I want to try them all–Daravara, Sugarbowl and MEAT are a few that come to mind. If you know of any other places that serve a legendary brunch in Edmonton and area, tweet them to me at @trailtocity or leave a comment on this post. I’m always looking for new breakfast favourites to add to this list.