Breakfast boom

Cornerstone Cafe

Dodo
935 N Damen Ave at Walton St, 773-772-3636

On the plate
This bright, pinkie-size space has everything a breakfast lover could want, like fluffy omelettes stuffed with sharp cheddar cheese, thick French toast triangles topped with vanilla creme and maple-sautéed bananas with a touch of yogurt.

Don’t miss menu item
The Japanese pancake is a delicious, savory, plate-size carb fest packed with shredded carrots and cabbage and topped with okonomiyaki sauce (a Worcestershire-like blend) and Japanese mayo. It proves once again that the Japanese are ahead of their time, even when it comes to breakfast.

Cornerstone Cafe
2753 N Western Ave at Elston Ave, 773-235-1155

On the plate
Pure diner. The “2 x 2 x 2” meal gets you two eggs any style, two strips of crispy bacon and two dense pancakes. Hash browns are shredded, and oatmeal comes just like your mom made it: fluffy and served with as much cream, butter and brown sugar as a kid like you can handle.

Don’t miss menu item
You can get the Belgian waffles topped with almost anything you want (shown here with bananas and chocolate chips), but these crispy, golden specimens are perfect with just butter and syrup.

Custom House
500 S Dearborn St at Congress Pkwy, 312-523-0200

On the plate
Shawn McClain’s breakfast won’t disappoint those who are serious when eating (like traveling business folks), nor those who are serious about eating. Truffle-basted eggs are set over crispy capicola, baked oatmeal is studded with dried fruits and fresh pastries like buttery coffee cake satiate the sweet tooth.

Don’t miss menu item
Is it any surprise that the standout at this steakhouse-by-night is the meat? The only thing better than the thick-cut, maple-glazed bacon from Gunthorp Farms (top) is the sage-infused pork-belly sausage links.

Terragusto
1851 W Addison St between Lincoln and Wolcott Aves, 773-248-2777

On the plate
Local, natural ingredients find their way into every part of this menu: the Traders Point Creamery yogurt topping the steel-cut oatmeal, the Paulina Meat Market pork sausage, and the Intelligentsia tea or coffee in your mug.

Don’t miss menu item
Eggs are just eggs until you taste the all-natural, free-range Illinois eggs served here. Try them over-easy atop the roasted pork hash (but avoid getting them scrambled, unless you like them loose).

Over Easy Cafe
4943 N Damen Ave between Ainslie and Argyle Sts, 773-506-2605

On the plate
Saving Ravenswood residents a trip to Bongo Room, this menu is packed with dishes like “Emily’s Dream Pancakes”—platter-size pancakes stuffed with blackberries and topped with orange butter—and “Sassy Eggs,” which are served on a greasy, spicy chorizo-potato hash and piled with a guacamole, sour cream and ancho ketchup.

Don’t miss menu item
Cathy’s Tofu Chilaquiles is a tofu scramble mixed with enough guacamole, red peppers, jalapenos and salsa verde that you won’t believe it’s vegan.