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Go Global with These 25 Spots for International Breakfasts and Brunches

Wake up with an Indian dosa or hundred-year eggs

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Much of America’s favorite breakfast fare is heavily influenced by international cuisines. For instance, French hollandaise defines a good eggs Benedict, and pancakes are thought to have Dutch or Scottish roots. The beloved bagel also has origins in the Eastern European Jewish tradition.

So, instead of playing it safe with American breakfast, why not see what people from around the world eat in the morning? The D.C. area is lucky enough to have access to a wealth of options from all over the world.

Of course everyone loves a giantEnglish or Irish breakfast在深夜,但考慮轉為敘述e more adventurous.There's everything from Japanese, to Korean, Mexican, Turkish, and even Indian.They're evenservinga special, one-time only Japanese-style breakfast at Toki Underground this Sunday.

There are plenty of restaurants serving international breakfasts and brunches all the time. Here's just a few places to get started.

—Updated by Meredith Bethune

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A&J Restaurant

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This family-owned spot has brought authentic Chinese cuisine from the restaurant’s original location in Taiwan all the way to Annandale. Their breakfast menu features items like sweet rice balls, red bean pastries, and Chinese churros.

Alfie's

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Head to Alfie's for some new Southeast Asian brunch bites like breakfast fried rice or papaya salad, plus a well-received burger and several vegetarian options.

Ambar Balkan Cuisine

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Just like the Belgrade location, Ambar in D.C. is a taste of the Balkans. During brunch, there are plenty of traditional egg dishes (like Balkan scrambled eggs) and pastries (like meat pies and stuffed crepes). They also offer a bottomless option so diners can sample everything.

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Ankara

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Bottomless Turkish kahvalti is served during brunch on Sundays at Ankara. Breakfast is one of the most well-loved elements of the food culture in Turkey, and it starts with van kahvaltisi, or a selection of sweet and savory small plates to share. The meal then progresses to eggs, salads, and flat breads. Turkish tea completes the experience.

Compass Rose

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Enjoy that Georgian khachupuri and other international brunch items on the weekends. Dine with musical accompaniment during their go-go brunch on the first Sunday of every month.

Daikaya

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Daikaya’s brunch has just the right blend of American breakfast favorites with a Japanese twist, along with more traditional dishes. Some of the creative fusion dishes include the soy milk-soaked French toast with kinoko dust and the poached egg and Chesapeake korokke with brown butter mayo and tonkatsu sauce on an English muffin.

DC Dosa

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早餐在印度千差萬別絕大country, but dosas are a common morning meal in Southern India. These lentil crepes are stuffed with vegetable fillings like curry potatoes or roasted cauliflower and carrots. They’re also flavored with spicy chutneys like cilantro sesame or onion tamarind.

Dukem

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Open at 9 a.m. every morning, Dukem offers Ethiopian breakfast classics like kinche (crushed wheat with Ethiopian butter and seasonings) and firfir (hot spiced beef stew with injera). They also have a wide selection of tibs and vegetarian offerings.

Espita Mezcaleria

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Brunch at Espita is a mix of some American brunch dishes and Mexican picks. Choose from biscuits and eggs, several taco varieties and more. UPDATE: They're currently tweaking their opening chilaques recipe but plan to eventually add those back as well.

Estadio

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在早午餐,餐前小吃點輕微的守護神ger plates of Spanish cuisine. They offer the obligatory onion and potato filled tortilla Española, along with every combination imaginable of eggs, sausage, potatoes, and cheese. Small breads and sandwiches are also on the menu.

James Hoban's Irish Restaurant & Bar

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For a full Irish breakfast, head to James Hoban’s for brunch. Their Irish farmhouse breakfast includes fried eggs, Irish sausages, rashers, black and white pudding, herb grilled tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, and home fries. Diners without a big appetite can downsize to a breakfast flatbread or a Hoban’s eggs Benedict with Irish ham.

Kafè Leopold

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Find a blend of European cultures at this Austrian-fusion café. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and the menu ranges from Belgian waffles and kaiserschmarrn to almond croissants and raisin danishes.

Kapnos Kouzina

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There are several Greek-inspired brunch dishes at Mike Isabella's new Bethesda restaurant. The menu by chef George Pagonis includes Greek coffee waffles, baklava French toast, and scrambled eggs with zucchini, tomato, and yogurt.

Le Diplomate

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A French breakfast wouldn’t be complete without people-watching by the sidewalk. During brunch at Le Diplomate, diners can enjoy observing neighborhood happenings while munching on fresh-baked pastries, a croque-madame, or quiche Florentine.

Lupo Verde

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Lupo Verde’s brunch menu has hearty egg dishes with an Italian flair, like uova in camicia (poached eggs in San Marzano tomato sauce with grilled bread) and parmigiana di patate (scamorza cheese, salame toscano, besciamella sauce, prosciutto cotto, and poached eggs). They also offer numerous creamy pastas that can totally pass as breakfast food, right?

Maketto

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Maketto’s authentic dim sum is served on Sundays, and it doesn’t leave out any favorites. The small plates include rice noodle crepes with shrimp or pork, hundred-year cured eggs, crystal shrimp dumplings, and baos, as well as sweet options like egg custard tarts and Chinese donuts.

Mandu

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Mandu’s entire lunch menu is available during weekend brunch, but they do offer one brunch-specific item— the Korean brunch platter. Calling it their spin on steak and eggs, the platter consists of gim bap, a Korean-style omelet, chive pancakes, Korean hash browns, and a choice of protein. It’s finished off with mochi ice cream.

Ocopa

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Saturday brunch launched only a month ago at Ocopa. Choose from Peruvian entrees like lomo saltado and pollo a la brasa, plus small plates, sweets and skewers. Diners can make brunch bottomless for $20, and get mimosas and Incajitos (an Inca Kola-inspired cocktail). It's available on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oz Restaurant and Bar

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Pretty much the only option for Australian dining in the area, Oz has to deliver a classic Aussie “brekkie.” Their Big Brekkie comes with sausage, bacon, baked beans, tomato, mushrooms, and a fried egg. There’s also a Brekkie Pie, and of course, lots of meat pies.

Palette 22

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Why choose between different types of international cuisines for brunch? The global menu at this art-themed restaurant in Arlington offers everything from arepas Benedict to Vietnamese rice crepes.

Rural Society

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This Latin American steakhouse by Jose Garces does Argentinian brunch on the weekend. Try steak and eggs with chimichurri, grilled sausages, or fugazzas (Argentine pizzas).

Simit + Smith

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D.C. gets another Turkish breakfast option with bakery chain Simit + Smith. Try their specialty of a Turkish circular bread (simit) with feta cheese, kasseri cheese, black olives, tomatoes, a hard boiled egg, butter, honey, seasonal jams, orange juice, and coffee or tea. Go lighter with yogurt with granola or simit chips.

Taco Bamba

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Mexican breakfast dishes are available throughout the day at Taco Bamba, starting at 8:30 a.m. They offer all the classics, like a basic enchilada, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and a sope with chorizo.

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The Queen Vic

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God save (room for breakfast at) the Queen Vic. They don’t mess around with their traditional full English breakfast, and they offer other British standbys like a sausage butty, Welsh rarebit, and bubble and squeak (essentially a potato vegetable cake made of fried leftovers). For anglophiles or homesick ex-pats, the tuck shop sells the necessities for a light breakfast at home, from McVitie’s Digestives to Marmite.

The Royal

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The Royal’s menu has various Latin influences, but focuses on Colombian cuisine. For breakfast, there’s an egg arepa with cotija cheese, avocado, and tomato, as well as the Calentando, a dish with rice, potatoes, peas, and house-made butifarra sausage, topped with a fried egg. For something on the sweeter side, try a guava pastry, plantain bread, or a corn muffin.

A&J Restaurant

This family-owned spot has brought authentic Chinese cuisine from the restaurant’s original location in Taiwan all the way to Annandale. Their breakfast menu features items like sweet rice balls, red bean pastries, and Chinese churros.

Alfie's

Head to Alfie's for some new Southeast Asian brunch bites like breakfast fried rice or papaya salad, plus a well-received burger and several vegetarian options.

Ambar Balkan Cuisine

Just like the Belgrade location, Ambar in D.C. is a taste of the Balkans. During brunch, there are plenty of traditional egg dishes (like Balkan scrambled eggs) and pastries (like meat pies and stuffed crepes). They also offer a bottomless option so diners can sample everything.

Official

Ankara

Bottomless Turkish kahvalti is served during brunch on Sundays at Ankara. Breakfast is one of the most well-loved elements of the food culture in Turkey, and it starts with van kahvaltisi, or a selection of sweet and savory small plates to share. The meal then progresses to eggs, salads, and flat breads. Turkish tea completes the experience.

Compass Rose

Enjoy that Georgian khachupuri and other international brunch items on the weekends. Dine with musical accompaniment during their go-go brunch on the first Sunday of every month.

Daikaya

Daikaya’s brunch has just the right blend of American breakfast favorites with a Japanese twist, along with more traditional dishes. Some of the creative fusion dishes include the soy milk-soaked French toast with kinoko dust and the poached egg and Chesapeake korokke with brown butter mayo and tonkatsu sauce on an English muffin.

DC Dosa

早餐在印度千差萬別絕大country, but dosas are a common morning meal in Southern India. These lentil crepes are stuffed with vegetable fillings like curry potatoes or roasted cauliflower and carrots. They’re also flavored with spicy chutneys like cilantro sesame or onion tamarind.

Dukem

Open at 9 a.m. every morning, Dukem offers Ethiopian breakfast classics like kinche (crushed wheat with Ethiopian butter and seasonings) and firfir (hot spiced beef stew with injera). They also have a wide selection of tibs and vegetarian offerings.

Espita Mezcaleria

Brunch at Espita is a mix of some American brunch dishes and Mexican picks. Choose from biscuits and eggs, several taco varieties and more. UPDATE: They're currently tweaking their opening chilaques recipe but plan to eventually add those back as well.

Estadio

在早午餐,餐前小吃點輕微的守護神ger plates of Spanish cuisine. They offer the obligatory onion and potato filled tortilla Española, along with every combination imaginable of eggs, sausage, potatoes, and cheese. Small breads and sandwiches are also on the menu.

James Hoban's Irish Restaurant & Bar

For a full Irish breakfast, head to James Hoban’s for brunch. Their Irish farmhouse breakfast includes fried eggs, Irish sausages, rashers, black and white pudding, herb grilled tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, and home fries. Diners without a big appetite can downsize to a breakfast flatbread or a Hoban’s eggs Benedict with Irish ham.

Kafè Leopold

Find a blend of European cultures at this Austrian-fusion café. Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and the menu ranges from Belgian waffles and kaiserschmarrn to almond croissants and raisin danishes.

Kapnos Kouzina

There are several Greek-inspired brunch dishes at Mike Isabella's new Bethesda restaurant. The menu by chef George Pagonis includes Greek coffee waffles, baklava French toast, and scrambled eggs with zucchini, tomato, and yogurt.

Le Diplomate

A French breakfast wouldn’t be complete without people-watching by the sidewalk. During brunch at Le Diplomate, diners can enjoy observing neighborhood happenings while munching on fresh-baked pastries, a croque-madame, or quiche Florentine.

Lupo Verde

Lupo Verde’s brunch menu has hearty egg dishes with an Italian flair, like uova in camicia (poached eggs in San Marzano tomato sauce with grilled bread) and parmigiana di patate (scamorza cheese, salame toscano, besciamella sauce, prosciutto cotto, and poached eggs). They also offer numerous creamy pastas that can totally pass as breakfast food, right?

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Maketto

Maketto’s authentic dim sum is served on Sundays, and it doesn’t leave out any favorites. The small plates include rice noodle crepes with shrimp or pork, hundred-year cured eggs, crystal shrimp dumplings, and baos, as well as sweet options like egg custard tarts and Chinese donuts.

Mandu

Mandu’s entire lunch menu is available during weekend brunch, but they do offer one brunch-specific item— the Korean brunch platter. Calling it their spin on steak and eggs, the platter consists of gim bap, a Korean-style omelet, chive pancakes, Korean hash browns, and a choice of protein. It’s finished off with mochi ice cream.

Ocopa

Saturday brunch launched only a month ago at Ocopa. Choose from Peruvian entrees like lomo saltado and pollo a la brasa, plus small plates, sweets and skewers. Diners can make brunch bottomless for $20, and get mimosas and Incajitos (an Inca Kola-inspired cocktail). It's available on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oz Restaurant and Bar

Pretty much the only option for Australian dining in the area, Oz has to deliver a classic Aussie “brekkie.” Their Big Brekkie comes with sausage, bacon, baked beans, tomato, mushrooms, and a fried egg. There’s also a Brekkie Pie, and of course, lots of meat pies.

Palette 22

Why choose between different types of international cuisines for brunch? The global menu at this art-themed restaurant in Arlington offers everything from arepas Benedict to Vietnamese rice crepes.

Rural Society

This Latin American steakhouse by Jose Garces does Argentinian brunch on the weekend. Try steak and eggs with chimichurri, grilled sausages, or fugazzas (Argentine pizzas).

Simit + Smith

D.C. gets another Turkish breakfast option with bakery chain Simit + Smith. Try their specialty of a Turkish circular bread (simit) with feta cheese, kasseri cheese, black olives, tomatoes, a hard boiled egg, butter, honey, seasonal jams, orange juice, and coffee or tea. Go lighter with yogurt with granola or simit chips.

Taco Bamba

Mexican breakfast dishes are available throughout the day at Taco Bamba, starting at 8:30 a.m. They offer all the classics, like a basic enchilada, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and a sope with chorizo.

Official

The Queen Vic

God save (room for breakfast at) the Queen Vic. They don’t mess around with their traditional full English breakfast, and they offer other British standbys like a sausage butty, Welsh rarebit, and bubble and squeak (essentially a potato vegetable cake made of fried leftovers). For anglophiles or homesick ex-pats, the tuck shop sells the necessities for a light breakfast at home, from McVitie’s Digestives to Marmite.

The Royal

The Royal’s menu has various Latin influences, but focuses on Colombian cuisine. For breakfast, there’s an egg arepa with cotija cheese, avocado, and tomato, as well as the Calentando, a dish with rice, potatoes, peas, and house-made butifarra sausage, topped with a fried egg. For something on the sweeter side, try a guava pastry, plantain bread, or a corn muffin.

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