Each year, we ask Orange County Register readers to choose their favorite places to shop, dine, play and do business in OC.
Read more Best of Orange County 2026: Best barbecue restaurant
Here are the top picks for Best breakfast restaurant:
1. Mel’s Diner
9430 Warner Ave Ste I, Fountain Valley; 714-963-2662
The Orange County spot should not be confused with myriad other Mel’ses, whether it’s from ‘American Graffiti,’ TV’s ‘Alice,’ sitcom, a failed Seal Beach locale, the Sunset Boulevard location or the site of San Francisco Civil Right ignominy.
Mel’s Diner, Fountain Valley, is a small, old-school eatery tucked into a mini-mall, between a dentist, chiropractor and easily lost in a welter of businesses behind the Sizzler and Del Taco that front Warner Ave..
Without the nostalgic kitsch of its namesakes, this Mel’s is authentically old school. How much? It doesn’t even have a website or accept credit cards.
Long-time owner Richard Gutierrez is eel slippery, gliding in and out to keep the restaurant stocked with fresh supplies and that freshness stands out.
Mel’s has built a strong reputation among its faithful, who crowd into its cozy confines. for good, old-time, stick-to-your ribs favorites in classic combinations and served in plate-bending portions.
It’s all classic fare, and while the restaurant serves both lunch and breakfast, closing time is 1 p.m., so don’t dally.
“We stick to what we know and what we do best,” Gutierrez once told an interviewer
And that’s breakfast.
The restaurant is proud of its biscuits and gravy, piled high and made from scratch. Also high on the list is the Machaca Superb, a traditional Mexican dish of shredded rehydrated beef with scrambled eggs, tomatoes, green peppers and onions, also served in a breakfast burrito.
Read more Best of Orange County 2026: Best bar
— Greg Mellen
2. Denny’s
Multiple locations; www.dennys.com
Soon after its founding in 1953 in Lakewood as a doughnut shop, Denny’s transitioned into a full-serve, 24-hour restaurant and went for the fences when it unveiled the Grand Slam in 1977.
With two dozen restaurants in Orange County alone, it is never far away.
The ubiquitous Grand Slam concept — unveiled as a tribute to then-home run king Hank Aaron — began as a breakfast consisting of two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon strips and two sausage links. Like so many other Denny’s ideas, it has grown and expanded across breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Today, there are about 16 “slams,” depending on the restaurant, including build-your-owns.
Denny’s also serves a full array of lunch and dinner options.
According to its literature, “Denny’s isn’t just a place to feed people’s appetites — we feed our guests’ lives by committing to social responsibility initiatives in five major areas: family and community, our food, diversity, our people and the environment.”
3. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Multiple locations; snoozeeatery.com
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, prides itself on an always changing menu and scores high marks for working with fun and festive twists on old favorites. These traits help make it a hit with residents.
If you like eggs Benedict, why not try it with shaved ham, parmesan and avocado, or prosciutto and melted cheese? Or you can mix and match any two.
Instead of a regular Cobb salad, Snooze subs in habanero pork belly, pickled red onion and crispy chickpeas.
In addition to expansive and never static breakfast and lunch menus at its four O.C. locations, Snooze also has staff or baristas and barkeeps to satisfy beverage requirements.
Another hallmark of Snooze is its enduring commitment to what it calls “food ethos,’ which refers to sustainably sourced ingredients, including proteins that are “hormone-free, cage-free, antibiotic-free, and never with any added nitrates.”
Read more Best of Orange County 2026: Best bakery