And—for that first meal of the day, anyway—I’m not super picky about stuff like ambiance or décor; give me a good ol’ legit dining-car-diner any day.
And while there may not be any authentic train cars serving up Irish Bennies in Bangor Maine, there are plenty of other fine establishments stepping up to the proverbial plate.
Whether you’re just looking for a hot cuppa and a muffin, or a full-on, fill-your-face feast, there’s a spot for you here.
Map Of Bangor Breakfast Restaurants
The map below shows the locations of every restaurant mentioned in this post:
The Grind House
With a short-but-sweet list of breakfast offerings and an impressive hot drinks menu, The Grind House is a cute little spot to grab your favorite hot brew and a breakfast sando—like their aptly-named OMG: Sausage, ham, egg, cheese, and maple-and-black-pepper-candied bacon piled onto a griddled glazed donut (see what I mean by the name?).
In addition to their more traditional hot mugs of caffeinated love, The Grind House also serves up four dessert-worthy specialty drinks—one of which is the Peanut Butter Chocolate (peanut butter and chocolate syrups, espresso, and steamed milk, all topped with whipped cream).
Now THAT’LL put some pep in your step, for sure.
Location: 1 Central St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: The Grind House
Bagel Central
This bright, cheery café boasts high ceilings, local artwork…and tons of house-made bagels, of course—their specialty.
Pretty much everything on the menu is made from scratch, and honestly, just one of the 18 or so different flavors of bagels is a meal in itself, especially when slathered with one of 20 topping options.
But once you lay eyes on the rest of the breakfast choices, chances are you’re not going to stop at just a measly bagel. Being a sweet and savory kind of girl, I’d order the Egg, Lox, and Onion Bagelwich with Cream Cheese, along with a single Buttermilk Pancake on the side. Oh, and coffee. Lots of coffee.
Location: 33 Central St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Bagel Central
Frank’s Bake Shop
Since 1945, Frank’s has been serving Bangor fresh, house-made baked goods, breakfast, and lunch in their cheery little shop—which has very little seating—but the service is always quick and friendly, and the food is delicious.
Whether you decide on one of their homemade baked goods or a breakfast sandwich (or both, in my case: A pumpkin raisin muffin alongside the 95 South, which is an everything bagel topped with a fried egg, pepper jack cheese, avocado, red onion, and chipotle mayo), I guarantee you will be delighted.
Location: 199 State St #5410, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Frank’s Bake Shop
Fork & Spoon
Walking into Fork & Spoon, you’ll find yourself surrounded by glossy, wood-topped tables and counters, industrial-chic stools and lighting, views of bustling Main Street, and the chatter of happy customers…and that’s just the beginning of a fabulous breakfast experience here.
With vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options aplenty, the folks at Fork & Spoon truly want everyone to feel comfortable and satiated—easy to do with their cozy little menu.
They have a variety of toasts, bagels, and sandwiches (I love me the Avacadoo: Two eggs on an English muffin with cheddar, avocado, spinach, and tomato) as well as an extensive Açai bowl section; I suspect this cubby of contentment will be around for a long time to come.
Location: 76 Main St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Fork & Spoon
Freshie’s Deli
If you think a gas station convenience store can’t possibly provide a passable breakfast experience, then I’m here to re-educate you.
Sure, this spot is take-out only…but Freshie’s is kind of obsessive about the quality of their menu offerings, and if you don’t mind a meal to go, you’re in for a really pleasant surprise.
Their freshly-baked muffins and house-made-daily breakfast sandwiches make believers out of pretty much every customer that gives them a try—so why not you?
Location: 1187 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Freshie’s Deli
Wicked Brew
While Wicked Brew is known in town for their coffee (personal pour-over, drip, cold-brew, and espressos, to name a few options), their homemade baked goods are also a huge draw—like their sticky buns, scones, coffee cake, bagels, breads, and muffins, for instance.
And if you need something not-so-sweet to balance all that sugary goodness (like me), you can get one of their made-to-order egg and cheese breakfast wraps, too. A breakfast combination made in heaven!
Location: 173 Park St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Wicked Brew
Judy’s
While not a dining car kind of diner, Judy’s certainly fits most folks’ definition of one: Big servings of good food for fair prices with no frills or fanfare.
Claiming to have “the best omelet in town,” Judy’s also sports a full bar—so if you want a mimosa with your Bacon Cheese Omelet, you can.
Don’t look for any high falutin’ options like gluten-free, vegan, egg whites, or oat milk here, though. They’re all about traditional, old-school, allergies-and-arteries-be-damned dining, here—and I mean that in the best way.
Bring on that Steak and Cheese Omelet and a Bloody Mary with extra olives!
Location: 125 State St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Judy’s
Governor’s Restaurant and Bakery
The menus at Governor’s remind me of the breakfast places of my youth: Page after page of delicious options, surrounded by pictures of food and cartoon chickens and pigs.
And—drum roll, please—they still offer what I call a lumberjack breakfast, and what they refer to as the Governor’s Big Breakfast Combo: Two eggs any style, two strips each of bacon and sausage links, home fries, and your choice of four French toast halves or two pancakes…AND a slice of Governor’s thick toast.
It just doesn’t get any better than that—sweet and savory, all in one go.
Location: 643 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Governor’s Restaurant and Bakery
Chase’s Family Restaurant
This family-friendly gathering place offers their “Good Morning Breakfast” menu from 7-11 every day, featuring all the traditional usual suspects of morning meals: pancakes, omelets, egg plates and sandwiches, and French toast.
And yes—they, too, have a lumberjack-ish offering: The Johnny Special features two pancakes, two eggs, home fries, toast, and your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage. (You can also order baked beans on the side—a real indicator of a classic New England breakfast place, in my book.)
Location: 1575 Hammond St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Chase’s Family Restaurant
98 Wake ‘n Shake
Tucked in the atrium of the Bangor Public Library, the 98 Wake ‘n Shake has plenty of hot and cold beverages on offer (including mochaccinos, smoothies, and bubble tea) for you to leisurely sip as you crack open the latest Stephen King novel you scored in the library.
But they also have a few all-day breakfast choices, like bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and the 98 Breakfast Special: Two eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, and a small coffee. Just don’t get any grease on that book, y’all.
Location: 145 Harlow St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: 98 Wake ‘n Shake
Blaze
Despite only offering breakfast items during their weekly Sunday brunch from 10:30-2, I just couldn’t ignore Blaze.
Their Cajun Buttermilk Chicken Sando (a buttermilk biscuit with fried chicken, bacon, and sunny-side-up egg) is beyond superlatives, as are their Breakfast Tacos (chorizo, scrambled eggs, smoked cheddar, caramelized onions, and mango salsa), and…and…Well, I actually would have to list practically everything on the menu here to cover all my favorites.
Just trust me and go.
Location: 18 Broad St, Bangor, ME 04401
Website: Blaze
Here we are again, at the end of all things breakfast in Bangor. There are also a fair few chain spots that some folks are just downright obsessive about—like Tim Horton’s, Denny’s, and Dysart’s—that I feel a responsibility to mention…and, as I’ve said, breakfast is my favorite meal to go out for, and far be it from me to overlook these venerable franchise veterans.
Also, if you’re of the gluten-free persuasion and are hankering for a little morning sweetness, head to Raegamuffin’s for GF donuts, muffins, breads, and other baked goods. And for amazing coffee (drip, pour-over, espresso) alongside a rotating daily menu of baked goods and yogurt parfaits, check out West Market Square Artisan Coffeehouse.
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