Sunny Side Up: Wilmington’s Best All-Day Breakfast Spots

Whether you’re craving traditional Southern fare, Mexican-inspired breakfast or modern brunch dishes, Wilmington has several local restaurants serving breakfast all day. Which one will you try next?

Amanecer Cocina & Café
Two Locations:
1616 Shipyard Blvd., Ste 20
6815 Gordon Road
Open daily, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Amanecer, an Ibarra Group restaurant with two locations, offers a fresh take on breakfast and brunch by blending vibrant American and Mexican flavors with an emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Portions here are not for the faint of heart. The showstopping Breakfast Molcajete, a mammoth portion of seasoned potatoes, Oaxaca cheese, rice, carne asada, chorizo, bacon, egg, queso fresco, nopal and fried green onions all served in a hot molcajete (volcanic rock bowl) is a feast for the senses. Slightly lighter options include breakfast burritos, an Omellette Ranchero, Quesa-Birrias and Conchas French Toast.

Brunches
Multiple Locations:
6800 Parker Farm Drive, Unit 150
3326 Jaeckle Drive, Ste 120
2030 Stonecrop Drive, Ste 501
300 N. Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach
Open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Founded in 2019, the Brunches concept has expanded quickly throughout Wilmington and beyond. The locally based chain now has five locations in North Carolina, one in Virginia and over a dozen in development throughout the Southeast.

Menu options range from waffles and omelets to breakfast burritos and egg scrambles. With the tagline “Mimosas Made Me Do It,” they have plenty of mimosa options to complement the menu, as well as brunch shots and coffee cocktails.

Buen Dia
Two Locations:
4719 New Centre Drive
5512 Castle Hayne Road
Open daily, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With two area locations, Buen Dia offers authentic Mexican breakfast and brunch options. Menu favorites include Chilaquiles, Huevos Rancheros, Tres Leches pancakes and breakfast burritos. They also serve a wide range of brunch cocktails in addition to margaritas, mimosas and Mexican coffees. A children’s menu is available.

Cast Iron Kitchen
Location: 8024 Market St., Unit 7
Open Wednesday  – Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday

Cast Iron Kitchen is a chef-driven, Southern farm-to-table breakfast and brunch restaurant from husband-and-wife team Josh and Drea Petty. The restaurant has been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Josh has competed on Guy’s Grocery Games, or Triple G as it’s known to fans.

Menu favorites include short rib hash, the Dirty South Biscuit, shrimp and grits and Southern-style omelets and spicy Bloody Marys. Don’t forget to check out their daily specials for seasonal treats.

The Dixie Grill
Location: 116 Market St.
Open Wednesday – Monday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed on Tuesdays

One of Wilmington’s oldest restaurants, The Dixie Grill serves up classic Southern breakfast dishes in a retro diner atmosphere. Menu highlights include Bernie’s Biscuits & Gravy, the Market Street Benedict, Louisiana Hash, a bacon cheddar scramble and sweet potato pancakes.

Drift Coffee & Kitchen
Multiple Locations:
221 N. Front St.
3501 Oleander Drive
1005 International Drive
110 Dungannon Blvd.
114 Causeway Drive in Wrightsville Beach
Hours vary by location

Drift Coffee & Kitchen offers all-day brunch and plenty of healthy options as well as sweet indulgences. Signature items include the Bodega Breakfast Sandwich, the Market Bowl Breakfast, avocado toast, acai bowls and Biscoff pancakes. Drift also serves a full line of espresso drinks and holistic drinks such as matchas and golden lattes.