You've heard it countless times: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But most of us are content with having Mama noodles or a simple congee to start the day. Hey, I don't blame you. Some of us don't have the time or if you're like me, we just love our bed too much to wake up early. But here's a question: who said breakfast had to be limited to mornings? It's a bit confusing to think about it because if you have breakfast during lunch or dinner, doesn't that just make it lunch or dinner? Don't overthink it, you get what I mean. Eggs, pancakes, coffee and other breakfast dishes are great anytime of the day. Fortunately for us Bangkokians, there's a number of places all around the city serving up great brekkies. Slather on that maple syrup, dig into those waffles and chug down that coffee. It's breakfast time, people.
Luka
With three locations in different parts of the city and each with their own unique feel and aesthetic, Luka is not just a great location for breakfast but a great place to chill, as well. With each location having a different concept, there are also some dishes that are unique to each place. We featured their location over at Siri House a few weeks ago for our Wine Me Dine Me and some of the standout dishes there include the Salmon tarte flambee (B320++), which is a must if you want a light breakfast, and their Beef asada salad (B590++), a great pairing of veggies and meat. They've also got their own version of the pancake, the Ricotta pancake skillet (B270++), served piping hot and deliciously sweet. If you're after a light yet satisfying breakfast, Luka is where it's at.
IHOP
Mega Bangna, G Floor, Food Walk Zone www.IHOP.co.th
The venerated house of pancakes has been serving up their breakfast goodness that Americans have taken for granted for around two years now. Obviously, pancakes are the staple here and if you love having them to start your day then you've got a whole bunch of 'em to choose from, from a straightforward classic pancake to ones that can be a little more fruity or chocolatey. If you want a pancake but are not feeling up to a whole stack, do what I do and order one of their crepes which is as delightful yet lighter. If you're after something more savoury, they've also got a few choices for you like their Combo breakfast sampler (B270++), the Denver omelette burger (B240++) if you're feeling like having a burger for breakfast (there's an omelette in it so it counts as breakfast), and finally, the hearty Steak tips and eggs (B295++).
Clinton St. Baking Company
G Floor, Siam Paragon www.ClintonStreetBangkok.com
Hailing from the Big Apple and now taking residence in the Big Mango at Siam Paragon, Clinton St. Baking Company serves up classic American diner comfort food. And if you're a fan of American diner food then you're going to love it here. Even the whole aesthetic of the place invokes the aesthetic and feel of those diners we Asians usually only see on TV what with the mix of dark red and industrial steel. But of course, the menu also matches the whole theme. The classic odd-yet-satisfying pairing of Chicken & waffles (B340++) is a great combo of sweet and savoury, or if you want to stick to something familiar yet still very tasty then their Blueberry pancakes (2 for B280++, 3 for B340++) with their warm maple butter will definitely hit the spot. Their Farmer's plate (B320++) offers the whole classic breakfast spread of scrambled eggs, toast, and tomatoes. While they're not breakfast staples, their Salted caramel milkshake (B180++) and Blueberry cheesecake (B200++) are worth a special mention. Then again, maybe these are your breakfast staples. I'm tempted to make them mine, that's for sure.
Breakfast Story
593/27 Sukhumvit Road, above Hair of the Dog www.BreakfastStoryBKK.com, 02-258-1461
Breakfast Story is another resto that's bringing diner-style breakfast to Bangkok. Another great thing about it is that they're open until 11pm so you can get your breakfast fix from early in the morning to late at night. Right now, they've only got one location but they're planning to open a second one soon. Their menu has breakfast classics like their huge Full stack of cakes (B250++) served with their homemade syrup. For something a little lighter, their Winter granola (B150++) is a great blend of sweet thanks to the Greek yoghurt and honey. If you're a sucker for eggs like me, you shouldn't miss their huge three-egg omelette (B240++), which is chock-full of onions, bell peppers and mushrooms. They've also got a Bottomless cup of joe (B80++), which is classic American drip coffee that you can get refilled over and over again to satiate your caffeine addiction. Other honourable mentions that may not necessarily be breakfast dishes include the Crispy chicken burger (B300++) and the classic Canadian Poutine (B220++). Oh, and I know you shouldn't be drinking carbonated drinks for breakfast, but they serve the classic diner-style cherry Cokes topped off with whipped cream and a cherry.
Kay's Boutique Breakfast
Sri Ayutthaya Road www.KaysBoutiques.com, 02-245-1953
Originally opened simply to have a place to serve breakfast for the guests at the hotel across the way at their first location, K Maison Boutique Hotel, Kay's Boutique Breakfast has now been serving their special take on breakfast dishes for three years. They've also got three locations, the original near BTS Victory Monument, one at Central Embassy and one more all the way over in NYC. While there is a slightly different menu over at Embassy, it's still all about brekkie. The crowd favourite is their Ultimate French toast (B240++), a combination of sweet and a tinge of savoury all thanks to the banana, icing sugar and a smattering of bacon bits. If salmon is your thing, the sumptuous Queen of benny (B210++) is your best bet what with the thick delectable salmon elevated with a hint of truffle sauce and served on top of a sizeable toasted muffin. For drinks, the aptly named The Hulk (B135++) is a good choice even if you're not necessarily a matcha lover. It's not too sweet but the chocolate mixed in just gives it the right amount and the matcha isn't at all overpowering.
Crepes & Co.
CrepesAnd.co
Crepes & Co. is one of the more expensive restos on the list but for a good reason: they've got a pretty dang good menu. Despite their name, they do more than just crepes, from salads and pastas to Mediterranean dishes. More than that, they've got a great breakfast selection you can choose from. But if you're looking for an all-around classic breakfast with everything (and I do mean everything), their all-day Brunch set (B585++) is the way to go. To call this a set seems like an understatement. You get a checklist where you tick off what you want and how you want certain dishes to be done. The set includes a basket of bread with three kinds of bread according to what you choose served with butter and jam, a choice of coffee or chocolate, iced or hot, before and after your meal, your choice of juice, fruits, eggs cooked the way you want with sides of your choice and finally, pancakes. If you're not full by the end of this meal, I don't know what to say.
Coffee Club
It's a no-brainer that Coffee Club would be part of this list and it may arguably be the most accessible place on this list thanks to its many, many locations all over the city, making its "Where will I meet you?" tagline appropriate. The dubbed "home-grown cafe group" opened in Australia in 1989 and is now in nine countries. While they do have a number of great brekkie dishes, you can never go wrong with their Big breakfast (B395++). With scrambled eggs, sausages, hash browns, bacon and toast, you've pretty much got everything you need to get your day started. Plus, it already comes with a coffee of your choice.
