Best Breakfasts of 2023

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and since I’ve already highlighted the best Barbecue and Pretty Fine Dining meals of the year, as well as the Best Side Dishes at barbecue places, I would be remiss not to highlight the best breakfasts of 2023. Usually, my own breakfast consists of either cereal with some fruit and/or black coffee, such is my self restrain. Abnegation isn’t my strongest point, and I dearly love to have a great breakfast of proteins and starches, the set of great breakfast that fuels you for a day of hard physical labor. I haven’t done a day of hard physical labor since Basic Training in 1971, but I like to get ready, just in case. You never know.

Tia Sophia’s in Santa Fe makes the list on the strength of its peerless New Mexican green chiles – spicy green chiles unique to the New Mexico’s terroir. Here they are surrounding admirable cheese enchiladas with green chiles topped by two eggs over easy, perfectly cooked, with tasty, crusty hash browns. 

The Homeric four-meat breakfast at Helen’s Cafe in Charlotte Hall, Maryland, features pit ham, nicely crisped bacon, good meaty sausage, and beautifully crisped and seasoned scrapple. Add over easy eggs and home fries (there’s bacon grease on that griddle) and life will be good. As for your doctor’s advice, forgiveness is easier than permission.

La Tejana won Michelin Bib Gourmand status for their breakfast tacos. The tortillas are outstanding and the fillings feature, in my case creamy eggs with either bacon, chorizo, or, for a special treat, that superb brisket from 2fifty Texas.

The Tastee Diner is out of place in modern, affluent Bethesda, Maryland, which is part of its charm. It’s a classic 1955 diner untouched by “progress” that serves breakfast standards, eggs over easy, home fries, breakfast meats, and that wonder of wonders, warm toast with melting butter that’s second only to Linda’s Cafe.

Smith’s Red and White in Dortches, North Carolina, has the best country ham biscuit of the year. Its abundant and exquisitely flavored country ham overcame a moderate quality biscuit to beat out the very good Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Biscuits in Chapel Hill. The tenderloin biscuit was good, although in the same class as Flo’s.

Ruthie’s All Day is one of the best barbecue places in the Washington area, which is actually saying something these days. The brisket and the pork are delicious, and their Brisket Bennie with perfectly poached eggs and a fine Hollandaise can only be improved by a side of their apple doughnuts.

There you have them — my favorite breakfasts of 2023. You really should try each of them, time and cholesterol permitting.

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