The Eight Best Breakfast Spots In Riverside According To Locals!

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Last updated on December 1, 2022 by Wandering our World

Riverside, CA, may be known for its citrus industry, but this lively city also has a burgeoning cuisine scene that is well worth exploring.

And if there’s one thing that everyone wants in the morning, it’s a hearty and filling breakfast! Luckily for those who love visiting this city, there are a many places offering a fantastic breakfast in Riverside.

Whether you just want good food or want to fuel up for a day full of adventures, you can have a delicious breakfast from our list of what we believe are the best Riverside breakfast spots. Let’s dig in!

Smoothie bowl with banana, strawberry, blueberry, granola and pomegranate
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Ark0nt

Our Top Eight Picks For The Best Breakfast In Riverside

1. Simple Simon’s

Situated on Main Street within the Mission Inn Plaza, Simple Simon’s makes for an ideal spot to start the day fuelled by caffeine and delicious food.

True to its name, Simple Simon’s serves simple and tasty traditional breakfasts with counter service. There’s so much to choose from and you can enjoy your pick of what you fancy including eggs, chicken sausages, omelettes, French toast, pastries and bagels.

Highlights of the menu to consider include the croissant breakfast sandwich, a huge monster of a dish that is sure to fill you up, as well as the generous French toast portions! Vegetarians and vegans can rest assured that there is a mouthwatering range of options for you too. Perhaps you’re interested in breakfast sandwiches made with freshly baked sourdough? Well their in-house bread is the perfect balance of crisp and soft, so it’s not to be missed!

It’s no surprise this bakery and bistro gets so much right as it was established in 1983 and has been serving breakfast, lunch, bread and pastries for four decades.

This humble-looking bistro is a local favourite and popular with visitors due to its proximity to the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa. You will find seating available indoors and outside to suit you, or if you’re after takeaway you can grab and go too.

When looking for a simple breakfast in Riverside without the frills, Simple Simon’s is the place for a morning pit stop and opens at 8am on every day except Sunday when they open at 9am.

Address: 3639 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501, United States

French toast with berries
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Arx0nt

2. Molinos Coffee

Coffee snob? We get it, you want good coffee without sacrificing on good food. Well, right in the heart of Riverside is a sociable coffee place offering plenty of breakfast options to suit your morning. That place is Molinos Cuban coffee which is the perfect spot to start the day, get your caffeine fix, and accompany it with delicious pastries, bagels and more.

Molinos has been gaining in popularity over the years thanks to their fun twists on your morning dose of caffeine. Peanut Butter Mocha Cappuccino anyone?

And if you’re in the mood for a light breakfast with your coffee, this is the place for you. Menu highlights include fresh Avocado on Toast with a selection of additions, a decadent Açai Bowl, and tasty breakfast sandwiches.

Much like many coffee places you can choose to sit in or takeaway, but do take advantage of their outdoor seating on a hot day. If you can get a seat by the window, then that’s a great spot to sit comfortably for a while and people-watch. If coffee isn’t your thing there is a selection of teas also.

Molino’s has been serving up the best Cuban coffee in California since 2013 and their ever-changing specials are sure to catch the eye of any coffee lover that stops by. Their latest offering in the heart of summer includes some refreshing cold brews as well as iced chai tea.

A woman-owned business, this great coffee place and popular student hangout is perfect for sitting and chatting with friends, or you can take advantage of the free WiFi to get some work done.

Address: 3639 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501, United States

3. Café Le Rêve

Looking for something a little more continental? Well luckily there’s a French gem tucked away in the Mission Grove Shopping Centre that we think could be the perfect start to a day of shopping. The menu may seem small compared to the other Riverside breakfast choices in most places around town, but what Café Le Rêve lacks in options it makes up for in quality and overall experience.

This family-run business offers a range of breakfast options from Steak Eggs Benedict to the classic Croque Monsieur, and in between you’ll find options of fresh fruit and delicious coffee. With sides of truffle fries and delicious Provençal Tomatoes, how could you miss out?

Their Omelettes are also well worth a try and the one that stands out the most has to be their Mediterranean Omelette which consists of squash, sweet peppers, mushrooms, spinach, feta cheese and heirloom tomato salad.

However the star of the show is the Pastry Board. These in-house baked goods can be served almost like a starter and are a unique touch as you get to start your day with an authentic French chef preparing your food.

There is limited seating in this little café with just one table outside, but it provides the perfect breakfast date spot. Cozy ambience, attentive service and fresh ingredients all transport you to a sweet sunny cobbled street on the other side of the world as you eat a richly delicious French cuisine.

There are many flavours to dazzle your senses for breakfast here, making Café Le Rêve a truly special breakfast outing.

Address: WM7C+H5 Riverside, California, USA

Omelet with parsley, cherry tomatoes
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Plateresca

4. Marie Callender’s Restaurant and Bakery

Famed for pot pies, this restaurant serves up a scrumptious breakfast too. Situated just south of downtown Riverside, this bakery turned restaurant has just the right amount of sweet and savoury offerings in the morning.

Top of the list, is the “Triple Egg Dare Ya” a mountain of a Riverside breakfast we’re sure will set you up for the day. There are omelets and breakfast sandwiches to choose from but if pancake stacks are more your thing, this place has those too! Your coffee cup will never be empty as well as attentive staff offer refills while you eat, and for a real treat, we recommend trying the breakfast blueberry pound cake!

This family-friendly restaurant finds its origins in the 1940s when Marie Callender’s baking legacy began. Today they have a chain of 27 restaurants spanning across the U.S. and strive to maintain the quality and care of Callender herself.

We advise arriving well before 11 am to take your pick of the best breakfast as it can be a popular morning rush. Even when busy though, the wait isn’t long and always worth it. Last we checked there are a range of flavours of pies and mimosas, so let the good times roll!

Address: 3505 Merrill Ave, Riverside, CA 92506, United States

Pancakes with banana, walnut and caramel.
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Lilechka75

5. Brandon’s Diner

Another fantastic place to get a hearty Riverside breakfast is Brandon’s Diner, which offers a range of classic breakfast options.

Serving down-home cooking since 1997, Brandon’s brings you simple breakfasts just the way you like it. Whether you’re after an all-day breakfast plate your way or want to choose from a range of classics such as benedicts, pancakes, waffles, French toasts and biscuits in gravy, you’ll get just what you ordered here.

The portions are generous sized and we think you’ll find it hard to put your fork down even if your belt needs loosening! In addition to all the American classics, you can choose from a range of Mexican breakfast options including their tasty Huevos Rancheros.

There are plenty of drinks to choose from to accompany your meal and you can dine inside or outside in this family-friendly diner.

Address: 10246 Indiana Ave, Riverside, CA 92503, United States

Delicious breakfast on a light table
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/tbralnina

6. Flo’s Farmhouse Cafe

This old-fashioned diner offers your favourite breakfast classics without breaking the bank. Located in the Van Buren Plaza, Flo’s is the classic simple diner. If you, your kids, your grandparents or your friends just want a simple breakfast with no overwhelming choices, this is the place for you.

A notable option for the kids is the indulgent half-waffle covered with a choice of strawberry or blueberry topping and whipped cream, or alternatively some fresh fruit. This might become your kids’ favourite weekend Riverside breakfast spot!

Known as a “Mom and Pop” style restaurant with reduced prices for children and the elderly, this is a fantastic family breakfast outing. Customers are loyal and longstanding, so Flo’s boasts plenty of regulars for breakfast.

A cozy home-from-home experience, this diner has got all the right options for young and old. They even have a fantastic outside patio where you can dine in the sun if you wish.

Address: 5620 Van Buren Boulevard #2080, Riverside, CA 92503, United States

Berry pancakes display
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Mehriban Aliyeva

7. Carolyn’s Cafe

Known for astonishingly large breakfasts and coffee cake served warm with butter, Carolyn’s Café is a great spot for a yummy morning. Serving coffee, cake and breakfast all year round and never hanging back on their portion sizes, Carolyn’s Cafe does what they do well.

There are so many scrambled egg options you’ll be spoiled for choice on their “scramblers”. Plus with omelets, steak and eggs, full breakfasts, burritos, French toast, as well as amazing pancakes and waffles, we’re sure you’ll be nice and full at the end of your meal. And in summer you can expect tasty ‘summery’ options such as the Strawberry Pancakes, Strawberry Waffles or Fresh Mixed Berries Yogurt Parfait topped with in-house granola!

You will find indoor and outdoor seating available and an added bonus for the coeliacs out there is the fact this spot does a gluten-free coffee cake if ordered 24 hours in advance.

This café is merely a short drive from the heart of Riverside and will be a great choice for all whether fussy or not fussed!

Address: 1150 Brookside Ave Suite A, Redlands, CA 92373, United States

Selection of breakfast items
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Los_Angela

8. The Forum Blues Cafe

The Forum Blues Cafe has a fantastic fusion of Mexican and Southern cuisine that tantalises the tastebuds and really hits the spot. In fact this place cooks up a breakfast that’ll take your tastebuds to Louisiana and back.

Conveniently situated by the metro link and offering fast-food-style service with tasty waffles galore, this is somewhere where you want to make time stop so you can just enjoy.

With breakfast tacos and nachos, waffles and breakfast plates you’re sure to get an indulgent breakfast treat here, especially with options like Oreo and Banana Cheesecake Waffles gracing the menu in the past.

Perhaps a bit more savory is your thing? If so, try the Hennessey Brown Sugar Wings with your waffle instead. Hey, no judgements here, go crazy with some of the best waffles and breakfast in Riverside.

A short drive from central Riverside, at The Forum Blues Café you’ll be served by fun, friendly staff that genuinely care about good unique food. It’s a down-to-earth black-owned business business that plates up authenticity.

Address: 261 S Palm Ave, Rialto, CA 92376, United States

Homemade Chicken and Waffles
Photo for illustrative purposes only: iStock.com/Bhofack2

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