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$14-22BrunchSweet-and-savoury brunch, big pancakes
Bongo Room in Chicago is the Wicker Park brunch institution on Milwaukee Avenue, with three-pancake stacks the size of frisbees and a vegan jackfruit hash.
OrderPretzel-crusted French toast with white chocolate caramel.
TipOrder one savoury and one sweet to share. The pancake special is a quarterly-rotating menu posted on the front board.
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$16-26BrunchFilipino breakfast plates
Kasama in Chicago is Tim Flores and Genie Kwon's Filipino bakery in Ukrainian Village, with longanisa breakfast plates, ube cruffins and a corner counter.
OrderLonganisa breakfast plate with garlic rice and an egg.
TipArrive at 07:15 to land the warm cruffins. The breakfast plate at the counter is a perfect 10:30 pause.
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$16-26BrunchItalian-influenced brunch, pasta-and-egg
Daisies in Chicago is Joe Frillman's Logan Square Italian-influenced brunch on Milwaukee Avenue, with hand-cut pasta, a carbonara-and-egg plate and house.
OrderCarbonara with a sunny-side egg on top.
TipBook 14 days ahead on Resy. Patio seats in summer go first; the indoor banquettes are the second-best seat.
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$18-28BrunchSouthern American brunch
Big Jones in Chicago is Paul Fehribach's Andersonville Southern brunch on Clark Street, with buttermilk biscuits, shrimp-and-grits and the Sunday-only brunch.
OrderButtermilk biscuit with sorghum butter and the shrimp-and-grits.
TipSunday tables go two weeks ahead. The bar takes walk-up if you arrive at 09:30 on the dot.
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$20-35BrunchSunday brunch with oysters
The Publican in Chicago is Paul Kahan's Fulton Market Sunday brunch with oyster towers, ham plates and soft-scramble-and-biscuit at the communal mead-hall.
OrderOyster tower, country-ham plate, soft-scrambled eggs with bacon-cheddar biscuit.
TipBook at 10:00 for the lightest dining room. The oyster-shucker is at the bar; order a half-dozen there if you walk up.
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$6-12BrunchHyde Park cafeteria breakfast
Valois Cafeteria in Chicago is the Hyde Park cafeteria on 53rd Street since 1921, the See Your Food steam-table breakfast, an Obama-era $7 tray.
OrderObama tray: scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, toast.
TipCash only. Order the Obama tray and pay $7.