République inhabits the old Campanile location, a gorgeous gothic-inspired setting on a blandly gray block of La Brea. But inside, the high-ceilinged space is light and airy, the kind of place you want to spend your whole day in, especially considering the menu. Though pastry chef/co-owner Margarita Manzke’s pastry case and the restaurant itself is French-leaning, morning offerings include everything from pork belly breakfast sandwiches to Maine lobster omelettes and waffles along with ricotta toast, shakshuka, and fried rice with kimchi, short ribs and poached eggs. Order at the counter and expect to wait in line after 9am, but there’s plenty of seating, service is fast and friendly, and the coffee and espresso is hot and strong.
Breakfast is the meal that launched a thousand trends: bacon, acai bowls, toast, brunch. Somehow, though, it’s managed to escape the hype/backlash cycle that’s dogged all of the above, hiding out and staying humble in the early, unglamorous hours of weekday mornings. Plenty of places that are madhouses come Sunday serve up the same thick-cut bacon and perfectly poached eggs—or kimchi and kasha—at 7:30am on a Tuesday, with way less of a wait. If you’re looking for a spot for a pre-work meeting, or just need a strong cup of coffee before you start a long day, here are our picks for the best breakfast restaurants in the city.
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