Morning Glory

"It's strictly breakfast and brunch only at this Little Italy spot, which isn't however just for the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The playful décor may look feminine with its plush booths, pink-and-green marble floors and a champagne vending machine, but look closer and you'll find a few skulls and dark touches. Inside, it's always jumping and there's a wait, so plan ahead.It's all about familiar-seeming favorites and of-the-moment meals—hello, avocado toast and shakshuka. Fluffy soufflé pancakes are worth waking up for, and fried rice with pork belly plus two eggs with runny yolks is a great riff on tradition. The dirty scallop slice is a thick rectangle of potatoes au gratin fried to golden, then doused in rich sausage gravy for next-level enjoyment." - Michelin Inspector

The 38 Best Restaurants in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"Awarded Bib Gourmand status by the Michelin Guide, this perennially popular brunch spot stands out for serving a breakfast menu with global influences (think egg-fried rice and breakfast carbonara) and compelling cocktails in a pink-hued, fantastical setting. It’s also plenty irreverent, with menu section titles like “Eggs a la Benedick” and a weekend-only breakfast dim sum cart service that runs from open to noon. Mimosas to kick up the morning and a selection of hot chocolates in unexpected flavors complete the picture. Don’t miss out on the soufflee pancakes, ginger fried rice with pork belly, khachapuri with mozzarella, feta, garlic, olive oil, and egg. Know before you go: The only way to get a weekend reservation is to pre-order “The Family Affair” group meal for a table of two or three. Options include steak and eggs, lobster omelet with sturgeon caviar, or fried chicken extravaganza." - Candice Woo

The 38 Essential Restaurants in San Diego

"Awarded Bib Gourmand status by the Michelin Guide, this perenially popular brunch spot stands out by serving an internationally-inspired breakfast menu (think egg fried rice and breakfast carbonara) and commendable cocktails in a pink-hued, fantastical setting." - Candice Woo, Helen I. Hwang

The Best San Diego Breakfast Restaurants | Eater San Diego

"This brunch restaurant and cocktail bar boasts steady lines and jaw-dropping decor designed for selfies. Here, the menu runs eclectic, from Morning Glory ginger fried rice and a lobster omelet to khachapuri, a Georgian dish topped with a cracked egg. A roaming cart conveying snack plates and extra tidbits is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until noon." - Candice Woo

The 25 Best Restaurants in San Diego

"Morning Glory's design hits you with a checklist of Instagram hits—rose-gold accents, tiled floors, Millennial-pink booths, wallpaper galore, and a few rock 'n roll touches like skulls. It's hard to know where to look; thankfully, you'll have plenty of time to take it all in because there's usually a wait, particularly on Saturday mornings. Prolific San Diego restaurant group CH Projects cook up morning rituals from across the globe. There's ginger fried rice, a khachapuri from Georgia, a gourmet take on the egg salad sandwich from 7-Eleven in Japan, and souffle pancakes. There are also coffee and espresso drinks, turmeric lattes served in glass goblets, and a lineup of unique hot chocolates (strawberries with cream, maple cinnamon) available as flights. But the day-drinking menu of low-ABV cocktails is the centerpiece. Try a fizzy refresher like the Morning Glory Spritz, made with grapefruit-infused contratto and sparkling wine." - Archana Ram, Marie Tutko