Start the day off right at one of the DC area’s family-friendly breakfast restaurants.
It’s been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy weekday breakfast or a hearty weekend morning meal, there are plenty of healthy breakfast ideas for kids that will keep your family from falling into a rut. But sometimes, the last thing you want to do when you wake up is cook a meal (and do the necessary cleanup). Luckily, there are loads of delicious breakfast restaurants near DC to help families get a delicious start to their day.
Here are 10 kid-friendly breakfast restaurants near DC that will give your family the energy to tackle playtime, errands, and everything in between. If you’re looking for a heartier meal, many of these breakfast restaurants near DC also offer buffet or sit-down brunch.
10 Family-Friendly Breakfast Restaurants Near DC
1. Ted’s Bulletin — Multiple locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
This DC institution serves breakfast all day, offering items like breakfast burritos, smoked salmon Benedict, chicken and biscuits, and a “Cinnamon Roll As Big As Ya Head.” Kids can order the “Mr. Breakfast”—a single pancake, fruit, and bacon with the option to add a scrambled egg. Be sure to try a famous, Instagram-worthy Ted’s Tart, a homemade pop tart that comes in several flavors—strawberry, brown sugar and cinnamon, s’mores, blueberry cheesecake, and seasonal varieties.
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A healthier twist on diner food and a fun Kids Club make Silver Diner a perfect breakfast spot for families.
2. Silver Diner — Multiple locations in Maryland and Virginia
Silver Diner serves healthier versions of classic diner food using ingredients sourced from local farms. Breakfast and brunch is served all day and features omelettes, egg combos, specialties like huevos rancheros and Eggs Benedict, and more. The award-winning kids’ menu offers eggs, silver dollar pancakes, challah French toast or waffles, and gluten-free French toast or quinoa coconut pancakes served with fruit and milk or juice. Silver Diner also has a fun Kids Club that gives children a free kids’ meal every five visits, a complimentary kids’ birthday entree and shake, a free collectible pin at each visit, and instant prizes.
3. Bob & Edith’s Diner — 5 locations in Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA
This small, family-owned-and-operated chain has served Northern Virginians for more than 50 years. Bring your appetite—Bob & Edith’s omelettes, biscuits and gravy, hot cakes, waffles, and other breakfast items come in hearty portions. You can even get your side of home fries or hashbrowns smothered in a variety of toppings like bacon, cheese, sausage gravy, peppers and onions, and more. The Columbia Pike, Huntington, and Springfield locations are open 24/7.
4. Founding Farmers — 4 locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
This farmer-owned local chain serves real food that’s mostly cooked from scratch—even the bread is baked in-house. The DC and Montgomery County locations serve a daily breakfast/brunch sit-down menu. At the Reston and Tysons locations, enjoy a sit-down breakfast on weekdays and a large buffet brunch on weekends that includes a carving table, all sorts of breakfast and lunch entrees, and a dessert table complete with an ice cream bar.
Enjoy chicken and waffles and other tasty breakfast meals at Farmers Fishers Bakers.
5. Farmers Fishers Bakers — Washington, DC
Founding Farmers’ sister restaurant, Farmers Fishers Bakers, serves a weekday breakfast and a weekend buffet brunch that will suit the whole family’s tastes. The breakfast menu features eggs, pancakes and waffles, breakfast tacos and more. At brunch, enjoy a French toast table, a carving table, seafood and chicken entrees, salads, various breads, and all sorts of desserts including cookies, trifles, mini glazed donuts, and more.
6. Farmers & Distillers — Washington, DC
This restaurant, owned by the same team as Founding Farmers and Farmers Fishers Bakers, serves a similar weekday breakfast and weekend buffet brunch as its sister restaurants. Though there is no dedicated children’s menu at any of the locations, there are plenty of kid-friendly items such as pancakes and waffles to make even the pickiest eaters happy. Be sure to try the Farmers donuts, made fresh in small batches.
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Eat breakfast and browse books at Busboys and Poets.
7. Busboys and Poets — Multiple locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Busboys and Poets is more than just a delicious restaurant. It’s also a bookstore and a gathering place for artists, activists, writers, and other creatives. The local chain, named after American poet Langston Hughes (who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1920s) aims to inspire social change, peace, and racial equality. Busboys and Poets serves breakfast and brunch daily until 3pm. There are traditional breakfast entrees like omelettes and buttermilk pancakes as well as specialties like Mekhleme (Iraqi corned beef hash) and chicken chorizo hash.
8. First Watch — Multiple locations in Maryland and Virginia
First Watch may be a national chain, but that doesn’t make its food any less delicious. The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch using the freshest ingredients, with some entrees rotating seasonally. For breakfast, choose from a variety of omelettes, breakfast bowls, pancakes, and more. The kids’ menu, which comes with crayons and activities, features waffles, French toast, chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and eggs, and grilled cheese.
9. Steak N Egg — Washington, DC
This diner in Tenleytown, open 24/7, has served politicians, dignitaries, and celebrities since opening in 1993. It serves up hearty breakfasts such as meat platters with eggs and potatoes, giant omelettes, waffles, and more. Steak N Egg also offers more than 20 flavors of milkshakes, from classic chocolate and vanilla to more unique varieties like Oreo mint and cinnamon.
See why Guy Fieri loves Metro 29 Diner.
10. Metro 29 Diner — Arlington, VA
This restaurant, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri, serves classic diner breakfast fare like omelettes, pancakes, and Belgian waffles. Little Disney lovers will be thrilled to find Mickey Mouse pancakes and Donald Duck French toast on the kids’ menu.
Lead photo courtesy of Bigstock; all other photos courtesy of the restaurants
