Breakfast in Fresno? The classic restaurants, the newbies and the ones that closed
Tucking into a hearty breakfast on the weekend is its own kind of joy.
If this is something you like to do, you should know there’s been a lot of changes in the Fresno-Clovis breakfast restaurant scene lately — about as many as there are ways to prepare eggs. Longtime restaurants such as BJ’s Kountry Kitchen have closed their doors for good. New locally owned places have opened up. And of course, the good ol’ mom-and-pop classics keep doing their thing, decade after decade.
So we thought we’d take a moment to focus on this most important meal of the day and recap where you can get it — and where you can’t anymore.
The closures
It’s been a tough year for all kinds of restaurants with inflation, especially the rising cost of food. Several breakfast restaurants have shut down.
BJ’s Kountry Kitchen is officially no more. The last two of the decades-old restaurants operating under the name, at Herndon and Cedar avenues, closed late this year when new owners bought it. Keep reading to see the new concept and name of the restaurant that reopened in the same spot.
The BJ’s on Ashlan Avenue near Cedar Avenue closed in October.
The Brunch Bar, which opened last year at Herndon and Willow avenues in Clovis with its brunch-after-dark food, seven kinds of mimosas and pink decor, closed earlier this year.
Country Kitchen, a franchise that took over the former Joe’s Steakhouse spot in downtown Fresno, closed after just eight months. The owner said he wants to reopen it.
Jeb’s Blueberry Hill closed its Blackstone Avenue location near Dakota Avenue — but it has moved to a new location. It’s now in Old Town Clovis, at 356 Pollasky Ave. at the corner of Fourth Street.
The classics are still open
This town has a ton restaurants that are great at the basics: pancakes, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos. We don’t have room to list them all, but here’s a sampling (and keep reading for the truly indulgent places).
Batter Up Pancakes has been around for about 15 years serving up cinnamon roll pancakes and other decadent options at its original family-friendly Cedar and Nees avenues location in Fresno. It also has the Clovis location that opened at 1610 Herndon Ave. near Fowler last year.
Irene’s Cafe is a Fresno staple in the heart of the Tower District at 747 E. Olive Ave. and the perfect place to meet up with friends for hangover food with its large menu.
The Fresno Breakfast House in the Pavilion West Shopping Center at Bullard and West avenues has hearty options and lighter ones, including crepes and half orders of eggs Benedict. Its whimsical decor — check out the teapots everywhere — and live piano music on weekends make it a Fresno favorite.
The Patio Cafe in Fig Garden Village is a favorite of many with its emphasis on locally sourced food. Insider tip: Try the avocado toast.
Red Apple Cafe at Herndon and Ingram avenues is a relative newcomer at just 9 years old, but rave reviews for its food have earned it a spot on this list. Surprisingly, its potato-based dishes topped with eggs and other ingredients are a highlight of the menu. Also, check out its breakfast cocktails, with coffee spiked with all kinds of liqueurs and creative mimosas.
The Train Depot is a down-home diner at Ashlan Avenue and First Street with a railroad theme. It’s known for its plate-sized cinnamon rolls, but you’ll also find biscuits and gravy, country-fried steak, corned beef hash and more.
The newbies
Despite the closures, new breakfast restaurants continue to open across town.
Chez Maryse is a French bakery with limited breakfast and lunch options on McKinley Avenue near Chestnut Avenue. Run by a Hmong refugee who grew up in France, the restaurant’s French chef serves up gorgeous pastries, crepes and a croque monsieur (a warm, gooey ham and cheese sandwich).
Kingdom Kafe is a little coffee shop and cafe next to the Middle Eastern grocery store at Shaw Avenue and First Street. It has a full drink menu with creative options such as a strawberry-matcha latte, along with crepes, croissant sandwiches and Armenian egg dishes.
Rustika Cafe & Bakery is a multicultural place in Clovis serving pastries and full breakfasts at Willow and Herndon avenues in the Target shopping center. It has Mexican dishes, such as chorizo with potatoes, chilaquiles, omelets and lots of pastries.
The Waffle Place took over the BJ’s Kountry Kitchen that closed at Cedar and Herndon avenues. It kept much of the same menu, but added fresh-pressed juices, baked goods and a full menu of espresso-based coffee drinks.
Yolked Kitchen is the new breakfast restaurant by the owners of the high-end 13 Prime Steak in the Parkway Trails shopping center at Willow and Nees avenues in Clovis. It’s got the same elevated cuisine, but with bananas Foster french toast, breakfast cocktails and more.
Zaatar Bistro is restaurant with a Mediterranean breakfast and brunch at Shepherd Avenue and Champlain Drive. Its menu has lots of egg dishes, fresh-baked bread with Middle Eastern spices, hummus and more.
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The artery cloggers
We apply this label with love, of course, because everyone deserves to indulge occasionally. Just consume responsibly. Here’s a look at some restaurants with extra-yummy options.
Al’s Cafe on Olive Avenue near Highway 99 is one of those old-school places serving up big portions of Mexican and American breakfasts that leave you waddling through the parking lot. Customers rave about the chile verde omelet, breakfast burrito and menudo.
Benaddiction, the rock-themed breakfast joint at Maple and Behymer avenues, has all kinds of creatively named food on its menu. Pancakes come with Nutella and Ghirardelli chocolate. But a big reason it makes the indulgent category is its hash browns, made from fresh potatoes shredded directly into a deep fryer, forming a brick of deliciousness.
Country Fare Cafe on Belmont Avenue near Maple Avenue has some parking challenges, but Fresnans love its food. The plates are so full here they’re nearly overflowing. One favorite: the chile Colorado served with eggs, fried potatoes, refried beans and tortillas.
Ho Ho Kafe on F Street in Chinatown is like walking into a time capsule, with its advertising art painted on the walls. The restaurant serves a combo of Asian and American food. Its breakfast plates are piled high with your choice of juicy meat (including hot links, chorizo and pork chops), buttery eggs, and steamed rice bathed in gravy.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
