Best All-Day Breakfast Restaurants In Sacramento

Breakfast foods are traditionally eaten in the morning hours, but few among us have not yearned for pancakes and bacon at other times of day. This is even more common than waking with a craving for a non-breakfast meal, like a few slices of pizza leftover from the night before. These Sacramento small business owners have heeded the call for alternative meal options and offer waffles, omelets and other breakfast items throughout the day.

The Elephant Shack
39492 Kentucky Ave.
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 666-2266
www.facebook.com/TheElephantShack

The unpretentious Shack is owned by a local mother and daughter, and the service is as great as the food. Breakfast is served anytime, and the café is open through the late afternoon. The Shack's Skillet is a plate of scrambled eggs, onions, grilled green pepper and delicious house-made hot links, covered with chives and cheese. Diners with a bit of a sweet tooth cannot resist the brioche bread French toast or treats like cinnamon and pecan pancakes. There are frequent special deals and freebies, and you cannot go wrong with a place that happily serves up all-day breakfast with cheesecake for dessert.

Related: Ask A Chef: Best Breakfast Casserole Recipes

Sacramento 49er Travel Plaza
2828 El Centro Road
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 927-4774
www.acramento49er.com

Truck drivers are notorious for knowing all of the best places to eat breakfast, and the restaurant at the Travel Plaza proves this to be true. Breakfast, lunch and dinner items are available any time, and the eatery is open 24 hours a day. The décor is not luxurious, but the menu is huge and the portions are generous. One of the most beloved meals is the Trucker's Favorite, which includes eggs, sausage, country potatoes and old-fashioned biscuits with peppery sausage gravy. Feed those late night cravings with a classic chicken-fried steak or try the 49er Omelet, crammed with meat, veggies and cheese. The shredded pork machaca, mixed with scrambled eggs, grilled onions and jalapeno peppers, is also worthy of a visit. The prices, while still very reasonable, can be a bit higher than expected, and may be due to the travel center's amenities like big-rig parking, showers, a laundry room and hotel.

Cornerstone
2326 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 441-0948
cornerstonerestaurant.org

Cornerstone is currently open from early morning until 9 – 10 p.m., depending on the day, and offers breakfast any time. The menu includes classics such as corned beef hash, oatmeal, pancakes and French toast, but offers more distinctly Californian meals as well. One omelet has zucchini, mushrooms, turkey and tomatoes topped with hollandaise sauce, while another is created with avocado, jack and bay shrimp. Another gustatory delight is the potato platter, featuring home fries mixed with eggs, ham, bacon cheese and bell pepper. One of Cornerstone's much-favored features is a full bar that starts serving as soon as the doors open.

The Waffle Experience
4391 Gateway Park Blvd., Suite 650
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 285-0562
www.thewaffleexperience.com

Michael Donoho offers his creative culinary take on breakfast foods throughout the day. The foundation of menu items are Belgian liège, caramelized yeast waffles that can be used for both savory and sweet meals. One favorite is the Sacramento King, a dill and cracked pepper waffle with toppings including hardboiled egg, shaved onion, tomato, arugula, caper-infused cream cheese and some of the best house-smoked salmon found in Sacramento. Special menu items include a sweeter option called Peachy Keen with fresh peaches, mint and Chantilly crème atop liege waffle made with granola and almonds.

Eggie's Restaurant
1650 Fulton Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 488-4356
www.eggiesrestaurant.net

Eggie's offers breakfast through mid-afternoon closing hours, and is famous for friendly employees and large platters of delectable concoctions. Try the triple-chili omelet, made with jalapenos, Cajun sausage, green chilies and pico de gallo, or the traditional French toast with fresh fruit; a healthier version of the latter includes whole wheat bread, cinnamon batter and egg substitute. A wide range of meat, vegetable and cheese options are available for omelets, and favorites like the avocado, bacon and tomato California benedict are excellent.

Related: Best Creative Burgers In Sacramento

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits. Her work can also be found at Examiner.com.