The punniest breakfast spots in the Valley

Learn about seven breakfast spots across the Valley that serve fantastic food and start the customer experience with a pun. 

Pun: Noun. The usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound. 

HONK, HONK, HONK. The alarm is blaring, the sun is rising, and there is one thing you can do to start your day off right: eat a hearty breakfast.

Maybe you’re among the 55% of adults who consider themselves morning people and have no problem ceasing slumber. Maybe you’re just waking up out of necessity for a livelihood. Either way, going out to breakfast is such a sweet treat to start the day with. A tasty meal, clean dishes, and coffee a plenty — all without having to do any of the work.

Oftentimes, breakfast spots shout out the goofy dads by incorporating puns as part of the establishment name. Fun and punny names create a memorable, stand-out title and quickly alert the customer of the relaxed, casual atmosphere that is sure to follow suit through the front doors. So, if you are looking to start your morning off with breakfast, some coffee, and a chuckle or two, here are seven of the punniest breakfast spots in the valley. They are cereal-ously worth the try. 

1. Eggstasy

With six locations throughout the valley, this restaurant is known for having some of the best coffee around—which many of us need as the sun is taking over the sky. For those who avoid caffeine—yes, there are people out there who don’t drink coffee—there is fresh squeezed orange juice! They also source their bread and baked goods from a local baker, so as not to skimp on quality. It is the restaurant’s commitment to high-quality ingredients and products that will leave patrons in breakfast ecstasy.

What to try: Omelet, coffee

2. Thanks a Brunch

Burgers, breakfast, and brunch, oh my! This Gilbert cafe, open from 7-3, enjoys their punning. Painted amidst a desert-scene mural inside the cafe is a message: “Let’s go brunchin’.” Humor is not all they are about, though. They have amazing carne asada breakfast burritos, eggs benedict, and French toast. And burgers. They have juicy burgers. So you can enjoy a meal here for breakfast, brunch, or lunch!

What to try: Breakfast burritos

3. Sunnyside Breakfast Lounge

Sunnyside is a disposition that also references a popular egg style. The Sunnyside Breakfast Lounge strives to provide both of these aspects to its patrons with positive service and delicious eats. One way they achieve this is by offering many accommodations that are hard to find at other breakfast establishments: they offer gluten-free and vegan options, both of which have positive reviews.

Between the accommodations, tasty meals, and good service, you can plan to leave here feeling sunny.

What to try: Any of the potato dishes

4. Mamma Toledo’s The Pie Hole

Not strictly a breakfast place, this pie shop in Phoenix is not shy with the pun. They are proud to say, “We’ll shut your pie hole.” With the high-praise reviews, they can get away with that phrase, too. Customers rave about the coconut cream pie, as well as the apple crumble. Don’t miss out on the savory pies, though, as this Pie Hole is for more than just sweets. If you are interested in a morning meal from here, they open at 8 a.m.

What to try: Coconut cream pie, apple crumble

5. Snooze

This one isn’t as punny as it is ironic: despite what the name suggests, Snooze opens its doors at 6:30 a.m. Their employees certainly aren’t snoozing!

There are locations throughout Arizona — and other states as well, as this ironic restaurant is a national chain known for quality morning meals and clean aesthetic.

What to try: The benedicts

6. The Crowned Egg

In order to understand this reference, you may have to dig deep into your high school literature knowledge.

In Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” two halves of an egg are offered as a metaphor to represent two crowns and the divide of King Lear’s kingdom. Maybe not the first thing your mind goes to, but if you really dig Shakespeare (cue the literature buffs), I’m sure you are already running through the witty—albeit inaccessible to us plebeians—lines.

Outside of having a deeply intellectual name, The Crowned Egg is a Chandler and Gilbert favorite for stellar service and satisfying plates.

What to try: Huevos rancheros 

7. First Watch

First Watch is an award-winning cafe with a seasonal menu meant to elevate the classics. It is also a play on military jargon.

First watch typically refers to having someone’s back or watching their “6 o’clock” during battle. If you consider your day to be something of a battle ahead, let First Watch have your back and choose to dine here when your watch first shows it’s time to have breakfast.

What to try: Million Dollar Bacon — don’t worry, it’s just a name, not a price.

Honorable mention: Unphogettable

The only restaurants that are punnier than breakfast restaurants are pho spots. How could restaurateurs miss the opportunity to tap into their dad humor with a word as ripe for the punning as “pho?” While it didn’t make it to last month’s Pho listicle, this restaurant is worthy of this list with its face-palm of a name and noteworthy vegetable pho.

What to try: Veggie pho

Closing thoughts

Whether you find this list on a Monday morning  or a Friday night, it is always a good morning to check  out one of these punny breakfast spots for an energizing meal and a quick chuckle to start the day off on the sunnyside. Who knows, it might even leave you to feel oat-standing.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

READ MORE: Metro Phoenix restaurants backed by celebrity chefs