December 21, 2024

5 Things to Do Dining Music Comedy Festivals Events Theatre Calendar

Where you can find the best breakfast in northern Illinois

By Aimee Barrows

December 19, 2024 at 11:15 am CST

Challah bread creates a nice base for all the fruit, nuts and granola on this French toast combination. (Gregg Pill)

National Maple Syrup Day is Dec. 17, which is a great reason to treat yourself and your loved ones to a delicious, award-winning pancake or French toast breakfast.

To find out where to get the best breakfast in Kane, Kendall, McHenry and DeKalb counties, and the Illinois Valley area, we asked our readers to weigh in for the Shaw Media Best of the Fox, Best of the Illinois Valley and DeKalb County’s Finest contests. The results are in, and here are the top-rated breakfast restaurants in 2024, as voted by audiences.

For more information about each restaurant, click on the links below to visit their websites.

BEST OF THE FOX

The famous Baked Apple Villa Pancake is an oven-baked pancake with Granny-Smith apples, a cinnamon glaze and dusting of powered sugar. The dish also can be served with vanilla bean ice cream at an additional charge. (Shaw Media)

KANE COUNTY

BEST BREAKFAST: Apple Villa Cafe, 1961 W. Wilson St., Batavia

ONE OF THE BEST: Nosh, 22 N. 3rd St., Geneva

ONE OF THE BEST: State Street Diner, 630 W. State St., Geneva

KENDALL COUNTY

BEST BREAKFAST: Grace Coffee and Wine, 42 W. Countryside Parkway, Yorkville

ONE OF THE BEST: Star 34 Cafe, 336 W. Church St., Sandwich

ONE OF THE BEST: Southern Belle’s Pancake House, 56 E. Schoolhouse Road, Yorkville

McHENRY COUNTY

BEST BREAKFAST: Andy’s Restaurant, 468 W. Virginia St., Crystal Lake

ONE OF THE BEST: Breaking Bread Catering and Deli, 638 Northwest Highway, Cary

ONE OF THE BEST: Benedict’s La Strata, 40 N. Williams Ave., Suite F, Crystal Lake

DeKALB COUNTY’S FINEST

BEST BREAKFAST: Egg Haven Pancakes & Cafe, 2562 Sycamore Road, DeKalb

ONE OF THE BEST: Rise and Shine Family Restaurant, 1640 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore

ONE OF THE BEST: Pub 64, 322 W. State St., Sycamore

BEST OF THE ILLINOIS VALLEY

BEST BREAKFAST: Four Star Family Restaurant, 1270 May Road, Peru

ONE OF THE BEST: Big Apple Family Restaurant, 4610 Plank Road, Peru

ONE OF THE BEST: Liberty Family Restaurant, 1131 Shooting Park Road, Peru

Food Restaurant The Scene Dining Breakfast Peru Sycamore DeKalb Batavia Geneva

Aimee Barrows

Aimee Barrows is the editor of The Scene, Shaw Local News Network's entertainment section. The Scene is your go-to destination for all things fun in Northern Illinois. Prior to The Scene, Aimee was the editor of the Kane County Chronicle for five years, and a freelance reporter for Shaw Media for four years.