Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Columbus area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near Columbus for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Columbus area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of Columbus were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#21. Westerville Grill
- Rating: 3.8/5 (252 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 59 South State St. Westerville, Ohio
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Diners
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Sunny Street Cafe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 644 North State St. Westerville, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. George's Linworth Diner
- Rating: 3.9/5 (110 reviews)
- Address: 2245 West Dublin Granville Road Worthington, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Scramblers
- Rating: 3.9/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8679 Sancus Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Sunny Street Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8461 Sancus Blvd. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#16. The Pancake House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 129 West Schrock Road Westerville, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Honey Dip Donuts
- Rating: 4.0/5 (133 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4480 Kenny Road Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Maple Street Biscuit Company - Columbus
- Rating: 4.1/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1310 Polaris Pkwy Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#13. HangOverEasy
- Rating: 4.1/5 (510 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1646 Neil Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Grand Day Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (293 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1284 West 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Buckeye Donuts
- Rating: 4.2/5 (436 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1998 North High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#10. George's Beechwold Diner
- Rating: 4.2/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4408 Indianola Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Bexley Coffee Shop
- Rating: 4.3/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 492 North Cassady Ave. Bexley, Ohio
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. German Village Coffee Shop
- Rating: 4.3/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 193 Thurman Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Rebol
- Rating: 4.4/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6608 Longshore St. Dublin, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Delaney's Diner
- Rating: 4.4/5 (406 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5916 Westerville Road Westerville, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp
#5. HangOverEasy
- Rating: 4.4/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 51 Parsons Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Emmett's Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2571 Neil Ave. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Kolache Republic
- Rating: 4.5/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 702 S. High St. The Daily Growler Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Stav's Diner
- Rating: 4.6/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2932 East Broad St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Diners, American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Emmett's Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 744 South High St. Columbus, Ohio
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.