5 Spots to Eat an Extremely Early Breakfast in Philly
Standbys that open before sunrise, in case you need to fuel up before a shift or you just enjoy peace and quiet with your eggs at 6 a.m.
Grab an early breakfast at these Philly spots
You might already know the late-night spots where you can get a gyro at 3 a.m. or pancakes for dinner. But the spots that open real early? The ones where you’re eating, not to appease tomorrow’s hangover, but to fuel today’s shift? For those, you gotta go where the workday starts while it’s still dark.
Mister Chubby’s
Opens at 4:15 a.m.
The menu looks like it was made with circa-1995 Microsoft Paint, the logo features a man simultaneously eating a burger and a turkey leg, and the name is Mister Chubby’s. You’re not walking away hungry.
8312 State Road, Northeast Philly.
Mary’s Lunch
Opens at 4:30 a.m.
Call ahead to see if they’ve made their home-baked ham today. If so, they’ve made the decision for you.
3600 Richmond Street, Port Richmond.
Johnny’s Hots
Opens at 5 a.m.
What you’re ordering: hot sausage with a smashed fish cake, topped with pepper hash.
1234 North Delaware Avenue, Fishtown.
Yummy Diner
Opens at 6 a.m.
Twelve stools and zero web presence. This is the kind of place that other diners think they are. Oh, and don’t call it Yummy Diner — it’s Yummy’s.
34 North 52nd Street, West Philly.
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Home Depot
Opens at 7 a.m.
Okay, so technically it’s Rocco’s Italian Sausage, but if you had to give directions to any Rocco’s, you’d just say, “Go to the shack in front of Home Depot.” From Somerton to Girard Estates, Rocco’s is the first stop for contractors, plumbers, masons and regular schmucks across the city.
Multiple locations.
Published as “Early Bird Specials” in the July 2022 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
