All About Brunch: Top 3 Brunch Places in LA

How many meals are consumed throughout a typical day? Most people would answer three; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But what about meal number four? That is, brunch. For many LA goers, brunch is an every weekend (or as often as possible) opportunity to wear casual clothes and go get a delicious meal with your friends or family on a sunny Sunday. Many of you may already have your go-to brunch restaurants, but for those of you who are interested in new options or wish to branch out, here are three favorites in Los Angeles.

Some brunch spots are famous for one dish in particular, and for Blu Jam Cafe that’s their crave-worthy Crunchy French Toast, which redefined one of the most popular breakfast dishes. Here, pieces of thick, fluffy white bread are rolled in a coat of crunchy corn flakes which are then thrown in a pan, soon to be topped with blueberries, finely cut strawberries, and served with a vanilla bean “sauce” that leaves maple syrup in the dust. The Blu Jam menu is rounded out with other scrumptious brunch dishes including a wide array of omelets, sandwiches, salads, and freshly squeezed beverages. The only issue with this cozy place on the Melrose strip is that the lines are long on weekends, so my tip to you is to get there early.

Before even tasting the food at Republique, the atmosphere alone will blow you away. Located on La Brea Blvd. in the mid-Wilshire area, this 1920s building originally served as Charlie Chaplin’s office, before becoming a series of successful eateries including La Brea Bakery and Campanile. Today it is one of the hottest restaurants in mid-city LA. The front of the house features a counter of Parisian-style baked goods that you can order to go, or place your order at the counter, grab a number and a table, and the waiters will serve you one of the best breakfasts in town. Signature weekend brunch items include their avocado toast, a chia seed pudding, a wood oven-baked egg concoction served in cast iron called shakshouka, or a classic French take on a ham and cheese sandwich (with a fried egg) called a Croque Madame.

In spite of the pandemic, South La Brea’s restaurant scene has exploded over the past few years. The obvious brunch spot here is Met Her At A Bar, a charming corner cafe started by a young couple that is known for their Belgian waffles. Additional menu items include a variety of pastries, specialty coffees, and other breakfast items that are just as enticing as their waffles. For those of you who are more inclined to a dinner outing rather than a brunch meal, Met Her At A Bar also has a sibling directly across the street that leans towards pasta dishes which is called, Met Him At A Bar. How romantic is that?