The Best American Breakfasts In London

Ed’s Easy Diner opened their first branch in Soho back in 1987. The menu boasts pancake stacks, French toast and waffles served with strawberries, blueberries and maple syrup. Healthy American-sized cooked breakfasts include variations of sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, Portobello mushrooms, hash browns and beans. Vegetarians can order something similar with a meat free sausage and although the portion size remains daunting, they grill ingredients rather than fry so it’s slightly healthier. There are a couple of burgers on the menu, and we recommend the Mexican influenced one with salsa and sour cream. Smaller plates include sausage or bacon sarnies and scrambled eggs on toast. Bottomless coffee is also available—just like being in America. They have a menu for kids under 10 years old so it’s a great place for a family treat. The interiors are typical classic diner with red leather seating, cosy booths, black and white chequered floor tiles, retro signage and fifties music playing in the background.

The Diner can be found in eight locations throughout London, and as the name suggests, they model themselves on the typical American diner. Their breakfast menu features buttermilk, blueberry, banana and red velvet pancakes in stacks of three. They also have French Toast served with custard, honey and maple syrup. If you’re starving go for the Hungry Man Breakfast which includes two eggs, three rashers of bacon, two sausages, roasted mushrooms, hash browns, toast and baked beans – its huge. There is also a breakfast burrito with chorizo, pork, black beans, egg, guacamole and salsa. Vegetarians can enjoy eggs in a burrito or avocado on corn bread and they now cater for vegans too with their mushroom and chickpea patties.

The Grillshack is located in the heart of Soho and is a cool place to hang out with industrial and urban style interiors. Here you can order the Big Shack Breakfast which is brimming with maple syrup, bacon, sausages, fried eggs, baked beans, pancake, grilled tomato, hash browns and toast. They also have an Extra Protein Breakfast which includes pulled pork, hamburger, maple bacon, sausages, fried eggs, baked beans and hash browns. If you aren’t a fan of carbs you can opt for their Carb Free breakfast with maple bacon, sausages, fried eggs, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. Vegetarians can try the Veggie Shack with fried eggs, baked beans, a pancake, grilled tomato, mushrooms, hash browns and toast. Pancakes come in stacks of three or five with maple syrup, blueberry compote and cream, Nutella and cream with extras of bacon or vanilla ice cream. The cinnamon French toast is amazing and well worth piling on a few pounds for.

Jackson + Rye has three London branches in Soho, Chiswick and Richmond. The buttermilk pancakes are incredibly yummy, served with whipped cream plus bananas, blueberry compote or orange and chocolate sauce. Cooked breakfasts include Salt Beef Hash with kale, country style potatoes and poached egg with hollandaise sauce. Prison Eggs feature scrambled eggs with jalapeño, borlotti beans, spring onions and toasted granary. Aside from the food, they specialise in Rye so you can order a Rye Bloody Mary or settle for their drip coffee instead. The interiors are very cool and reminiscent of a 1920s Speakeasy.

Recommended Dish: Jackson + Rye, Farmers Breakfast with Bacon

Fatboy’s Diner is situated in a retro diner trailer which is located at Trinity Buoy Wharf. This is an interesting industrial location with container office space and urban artwork dotted around. The menu isn’t as large as the other diners mentioned and the food is along the lines of a greasy spoon or roadside cafe but the friendliness, unique location and venue make it a worthwhile expedition. The menu includes pancakes with bananas, blueberries or chocolate chips. The cooked breakfasts include a big fry up of smoked streaky bacon, maple sausage patty, eggs, roasted tomato, Portobello mushroom, hash brown, baked beans and toast. They can make you a veggie version if you ask. Or you can opt for the Lumberjack which is pancakes with sausage, scrambled eggs plus maple syrup. They also serve sausage and bacon sandwiches, have bottomless coffee and Oreo milkshakes.