Top 10 Fast Food Breakfast Restaurants

Breakfast at Taco Bell may seem like a strange idea to some, but the concept has gained ground in the years since this fast food chain (after a few earlier experiments [1]) made it permanent in 2014. Folks who want to make an early run for some Tex-Mex can feast on grilled breakfast burritos and A.M Crunchwraps [2], which are filled with such tried and true breakfast favorites as eggs, bacon and hash browns. Plus, a Taco Bell breakfast prides itself on being ultra portable, which makes it a perfect choice for busy people on the go.

Subway is another fast food chain on our list that may not come first to mind when it comes to your common, everyday breakfast, but the sub sandwich franchise actually has quite a few options on the menu for its customers. Sure, the idea of a sausage, egg and Swiss may not be exactly new, but these classics feel a bit kicked up when Subway is grilling and melting those breakfast meats and cheeses on their sub rolls. The chain also provides egg white and flatbread options for those looking for something just a little bit leaner in the morning.

It's not just burgers and fries here at Jack in the Box. The fast food franchise has expanded greatly since its 1951 founding in San Diego, California, with various brick-and-mortar restaurants operating in over twenty states across the U.S. Burgers and chicken sandwiches may be the company's claim to fame, but there's also a strong case for the Jack in the Box breakfast game, as evidenced by their Meat Lovers Breakfast Burrito, pancakes and extreme sausage sandwiches. The menu seems geared to satisfy even the heartiest appetite, making Jack in the Box a dark horse contender in the world of fast food breakfast.

The venerable fast food chain known as Burger King has been serving up breakfast to their customers for decades, yet their reputation in the A.M grub game hinges on one classic staple: the Croissan’wich . Sure, there are a number of other, tried-and-true breakfast options on the BK menu, but it's the Croissan’wich that keeps their customers coming back again morning after morning. Maybe it's the fresh, fluffy croissant, those eggs and melty cheese, or the variety of meats in this heavenly sandwich that make it so good, but one thing's for sure: Burger King has breakfast on lock down with their Croissan’wich.

Croissants not your bag? No worries, then we have another breakfast bread for you. The fast food chain known as Chick-fil-a was born in the south, and they show their roots with their dedication to serving up fried chicken breakfast sandwiches on fluffy buttermilk biscuits. "Hearty" doesn't even begin to describe these little bites of deliciousness, which can be devoured with the company's signature chicken, as well as bacon or sausage. Chick-fil-a also serve up lighter grilled sandwiches, as well as burritos and bagels, making them a satisfying stop for either a guilty pleasure breakfast or something a bit more sensible.

Drive-in restaurants used to be all the rage back in the 1950s and ‘60s, but have sadly fell by the wayside as the decades have drawn on. Sonic Drive-In remains dedicated to the concept, however, with this popular fast food franchise operating over 3600 restaurants as of 2019. Although breakfast in a stationary car isn't exactly the ideal situation for folks running late for work, you can get it to go, and a morning meal at Sonic is a great idea for those days off. The company offers breakfast sandwiches and wraps, alongside such novelties as French Toast Sticks to satisfy the hungry kid in all of us.

Millions of people make a Starbucks run part of their A.M. ritual every day, picking up their breakfasts before heading off to work or school. The popular coffee chain has their customers covered in this department, serving up plenty of tasty breakfast options alongside their famous coffee. One notable aspect of their breakfast menu is the wide variety of healthier options, including whole grain breads and hot oatmeal, alongside their filling egg sandwiches. Starbucks may be a little more pricey when it comes to that morning breakfast fix, but the end results speak for themselves: thems some mighty tasty eats.

It doesn't matter whether you’re more familiar with Hardee's or Carl's Jr., or that the sister chains have made an effort to distance themselves from one another in the late 2010s, because if there's one constant in the breakfast fast food game, it's that both deliver in a big way. Calories? Fat content? The breakfast menu at Hardee's and Carl's Jr. are practically bursting with it. Their options are also full of big time flavor, however, such as the loaded breakfast burrito or fresh made biscuits, all of which house a heaping helping of delicious, unhealthy morning meats. A breakfast at a Hardee's or Carl's Jr. may not be good for your waistline, but your taste buds will certainly thank you.

"America runs on Dunkin'": that's the most famous tagline associated with this popular fast food coffee chain, and it certainly rings true. Dunkin Donuts is a staple in the northeastern United States, and serves up hot coffee to millions of commuters every day. The restaurants also provide plenty of breakfast options, as well, from the traditional egg and cheese sandwiches to more adventurous fare, such as the "Big 'n Toasted:" a heaping helping of bacon, egg and cheese served between two giant slices of Texas Toast. If that isn't enough to get you going in the morning, then we don't know what is!

They're a fast food icon for every time of day, but one thing's for sure: McDonald's is a breakfast ritual for millions around the world. This isn't just because McDees fulfills that bacon, egg and cheese biscuit fix, but because they offer everything from the traditional pancake breakfast to that glorious creation known as the McGriddle. What is the McGriddle, you ask? Well, it's a salty 'n sweet egg sandwich served up between two maple-flavored griddle - or pan - cakes - that's what! As delicious as the McGriddle is, however, it's the sheer variety and nostalgia provided by the McDonald's breakfast menu that give it the top spot on our list.