Whoever says breakfast and brunch are the same thing has never properly been to brunch and doesn’t know how to do breakfast. Brunch is a lazy, long meal full of cocktails and greasy food that takes place on the weekend at whatever time you manage to roll out of bed. Breakfast, on the other hand, is an efficient weekday meal containing lots of coffee that’s probably confined by a time constraint. But just because it’s less glamorous doesn’t mean it’s any less necessary — or delicious.

There are times when going out to breakfast is required, like when you’re visiting from out of town and in need of an early meal, have an early morning meeting or just don’t feel like cooking your own eggs before work. Brunch places are well-known, but it’s not as easy to find places to eat early during the week. So here’s where to go for breakfast in Salt Lake City.

Where to Eat Weekday Breakfast in Salt Lake City

Hash at Publik Kitchen :: Caramelized peppers and onions with potatoes on peasant toast topped with an egg and a side of creme fraiche.

1. Publik Kitchen

The stars of Publik Coffee Roasters recently opened Publik Kitchen, a sit-downy spot in a former house serving more than just artisan toast — but don’t worry, their signature toasts are still here, like Publik French Toast with mocha bread ($9). More substantial items include Chicken Salad Melt with bacon and cheddar ($11); and a scrumptious Hash with caramelized peppers, potatoes and an egg on (wait for it…) toast ($10).

9th & 9th :: Open Monday – Friday 7am – 3pm, Saturday – Sunday 8am – 4:30pm.

Kouing Aman at Eva’s Bakery :: When all else fails, a pastry is always perfect to start the day.

2. Eva’s Bakery

Main Street’s cute blue bakery, Eva’s Bakery, is the perfect place if you can’t decide between breakfast and lunch food but still have to eat early. The bakery-meets-cafe serves both all day, so you can pick between French favorites for breakfast like Stuffed French Toast ($8) and Quiche Lorraine ($9), or Tuna Nicoise salad ($10) and Croque Madame ($8.5) if you’re feeling lunch. No matter what your mood, good luck passing up the city’s best macaroni and cheese (with pancetta and peas, $10) or all those beautiful pastries in the front case.

Downtown :: Open Monday – Saturday 7am – 6pm, Sunday 9am – 3pm. Beer and wine available.

Corned beef hash at Hub and Spoke Diner :: potatoes with root vegetables, picked beets and dijonaise topped with eggs.

3. Hub and Spoke Diner

Hub & Spoke’s atmosphere stays true to its diner designation while their food is more worthy of a weekend brunch, with dishes like Shrimp & Grits ($10.99), Corned Beef Hash with pickled beets and root vegetables ($11), Chicken and Waffle Sandwich on a pecan waffle with fermented chile syrup ($10.50) and Breakfast Banh Mi ($9.99). Don’t worry, Steelcut Oatmeal ($5) is available for those who want a lighter start to their day, too. And the best part — besides the laid-back atmosphere — is they serve breakfast all day and night.

Sugarhouse :: Open Monday – Sunday 7am – 9pm. Beer, wine and cocktails available.

Whiskey Waffle at Rye :: topped with pork belly and an egg.

4. Rye

The restaurant that once had an identity crisis when it started out as a coffee shop/ quirky diner/ late-night eatery recently refined its service to focus on breakfast, brunch and a little bit of lunch. No longer open in the evenings, Rye has evolved into a morning spot while maintaining its trendier-than-just-a diner feel. Rye’s soft egg scrambles, like the chorizo, cilantro and tomatillo ($10), are a solid start to the day, or try the Breakfast Bowl with pork belly, kimchi and an egg ($12) for something more unique.

Downtown :: Open Monday – Friday 9am – 2pm, Saturday – Sunday 9am – 3pm. Beer, wine and cocktails available.

Mexican scramble at Pig and a Jelly Jar :: eggs with tomato, onion, cilantro, cheddar, sausage and jalapeño cream.

5. Pig and a Jelly Jar

Yes, the best chicken and waffles in Salt Lake City is available on weekdays starting at 7:30 in the morning. If Pig and A Jelly Jar‘s Creole Pork Belly Benedict ($12) and Chicken and Biscuits ($10) sound too heavy for weekday breakfast, try the Mexican Scramble ($9) with cilantro, sausage and jalapeno cream, or the House Granola ($6). If you want to skip straight to lunch, they have a pulled pork salad ($12), buffalo chicken sliders ($9) and plenty of lunch-worthy items, too. Their creatively casual breakfast and lunch dishes are available all day.

9th & 9th :: Open Monday – Wednesday 7:30am – 3:30pm, Thursday – Sunday 7:30am – 9pm. Beer, wine and cocktails available.

Les Madeleines’ kouing aman have been called the crack of pastries.

6. Les Madeleines

Les Madeleines is known for their incredible French pastries, but the bakery also serves breakfast dishes like Sausage & Eggs ($9), Egg & Cheese Sandwich ($3), and the MadMuffin Sandwich with scrambled egg, avocado and bacon on a house-made English muffin ($5). Or succumb to your sweet tooth with Crepes ($3), French toast (Saturdays only, $8) or the famous kouing aman.

Downtown :: Tuesday – Saturday 8am – 4pm (breakfast served til 10:30am).

Corned Beef Hash at Penny Ann’s Cafe :: house-made hash with eggs and a side of their famous hot cakes.

7. Penny Ann’s Cafe

When you’re in need of a mountain of food that may or may not include a slice of pie, Penny Ann’s Cafe is your best bet. Their monstrous menu includes an entire list of omelettes (named after universities in the PAC 12 conference, $7-9), breakfast burritos ($7-9), eggs benedict ($12), their famous pancakes ($3-9) and everything else imaginable. Seriously, there’s something that’s sure to hit the spot at Penny Ann’s, which now has three locations. Oh, and did I mention their pie?

SLC, Draper and Taylorsville (Coming Soon) :: Open Monday – Friday 7am – 3pm, Saturday – Sunday 7am – 2pm.

Croque Madame at Bambara :: ham, gruyere, Bechamel and egg with herbed fries.

8. Bambara

Easily the most fancy place on this list, Bambara serves weekday breakfast to cater to the guests next door at the Kimpton Hotel. So their well-rounded menu covers everything from House-Made Granola ($9) and Steel-Cut Oats ($8), Whole Grain Pancakes ($8) and Sourdough French Toast with cinnamon maple butter ($10), to a Croque Madame ($11) and design-your-own omelet ($12). If you want to start your weekday with breakfast in a beautiful setting with a view of downtown, this is your spot.

Downtown :: Open Monday – Friday 7am – 10 am (with lunch starting at 11am), Saturday – Sunday 8am – 2pm. Beer, wine and cocktails available.

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Any of these places will more than get the job done when you’re in need of breakfast in Salt Lake City. And here’s where to eat dinner in Salt Lake City. Plus the dishes I miss most since I moved away.