For being the most important meal of the day, breakfast is often skipped, especially by high school students. Whether someone simply doesn’t like breakfast food, doesn’t have the time to eat before school, or doesn’t deem it necessary, breakfast is a vital component to human energy and nutrition. Nevertheless, there are a multitude of places that provide delicious breakfast foods that can help start the day off right! We compiled a list of some of our highly recommended breakfast spots, considering factors such as location, store hours, coffee, and, of course, cuisine. So let’s get started! 

Chick-Fil-A: 

Mmmmm I can already smell those chicken minis when I pull into the parking lot. Chick-Fil-A is an infamous breakfast spot for our Raptors. The breakfast menu has a wide variety of choices including chicken minis, chicken biscuits, hashbrowns, yogurt parfaits, and yummy drink choices. Our personal favorite drink choice is the Iced Vanilla Cold Brew coffee. It has a good mix of sweet and savory flavors, keeping you awake and revived for the school day ahead. The hashbrowns are hard to beat, pairing best with ketchup but you can add any sauce to your breakfast meal. The honey packets with the chicken biscuits are a big hit and nothing beats the butter honey glaze on the chicken minis. Depending on how hungry you are, you can get either 4 or 10 chicken minis with your meal. Overall, this is an awe-inspiring breakfast joint that you should give a try! “My favorite breakfast is the 10 count chicken minis with a frosted lemonade. 

Ruby’s Bagels: 

If you like bagels, then Ruby’s is the place to be! The New York inspired breakfast bagel shop is one of the best to come to Charleston, having so many bagels choices for you. My personal favorite is the Cinnamon Crunch bagel with either regular or Oreo cream cheese. But if that does not sound your speed, no need to worry! Some of their bagels choices include plain, everything, salt, chocolate chip, blueberry, and even french toast. Their cream cheese takes the the cake with so many different flavors. They have strawberry, Oreo, regular, and berry. They also have many yummy drinks to choose from. I am a big fan of chai lattes and their’s is to beat! Whenever you are craving a bagel, run over to Ruby’s!

Point Break: 

Next up, we have Point Break Coffee & Drive-Thru located on James Island. Whether it’s a sweet treat, some yummy toasts, coffee/tea, smoothies, or acai bowls, this place has it all! Their most popular coffee is the Salty Cowboy latte, featuring a double shot of espresso, caramel, coconut, the customer’s choice of milk, and a pinch of sea salt. Additionally, they have delicious foods like the Mable-May (gluten free) & Saffron pastries, avocado toast, and various types of açai bowls crafted to perfection. Having worked there for almost 2 months, I [Sophia] have discovered that my favorite drink + food combo is an iced lavender & honey latte with avocado toast. Not only are the products fabulous, so is the aesthetic interior. With plush pillows and good vibes, Point Break offers the perfect place to study or meet up with friends! It is also open 7 days a week with an accompanying drive thru, making it available for a quick, before school breakfast or a weekend stop. Go and pay a visit!

Waffle House: 

Continuing with this delicious article, Waffle House is a perfect spot to grab a bite! With so many different locations around Charleston, you are bound to find a Raptor there. The menu contains so many different yummy items but the chocolate chip waffle may just be the best order. Along with this, the hashbrown scramble is very popular amongst students. Not only is this a breakfast joint, but lots of our Raptors end up at Waffle House after the football games. What could be better than starting and ending your day with breakfast!

First Watch: 

First Watch, located at the Town Center in Mount Pleasant, may be slightly pricier, but it is definitely delicious! This is the perfect spot to go for a weekend breakfast or brunch with family & friends. With waffles, toasts, fruit bowls, and egg dishes, there are multiple options to find the perfect selection. They also have great drinks, including coffees, teas, juices, and specially crafted drinks. One of the staple crafted drinks is the Purple Haze, featuring an aesthetic look and a lavender lemonade taste. When asked about the restaurant, senior Jaidon Daley comments,

Starbucks: 

Now we all know and love this place. Starbucks may just be the best thing ever invented, and I think all students should agree. There is no better feeling than getting Starbucks on the way to school, bonus points if it is on a Friday! At the end of the week, I love nothing more than picking up my fun drink and starting my morning off with something sweet. There is something for everyone here, whether you like coffee or not. The cold brew is smooth and savory, but their lattes are hard to beat. The creamer flavoring along with the cold foam options make it hard to pass up. But I believe the absolute best thing that comes from Starbucks is the Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte. This is only in season for 2 months in the year but I can guarantee that I get it as much as I can. The food choices are just as delectable, ranging from breakfast sandwiches to chocolate croissants. With Starbucks, there is just no way to go wrong!

Sunrise Bistro: 

Sunrise Bistro is a great option for a calm weekend breakfast to start the day off right. Having both a location at Mount Pleasant and John’s Island, it is easily accessible on both sides of Charleston. Featuring dishes like omelets, chicken and waffles, and crepes, it offers a vast selection of possible meals. It has very reasonable prices, making it both delicious and affordable, the best combo. Being a frequent customer, Jack Tierney offers,

Bagel Nation: 

Similar to Ruby’s Bagels, Bagel Nation is a delicious bagel stop. Not only do they offer simple yet great bagels, they also make cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches/wraps, hash browns, and omelets. They have a location in James Island and West Ashley with affordable prices to make it an easy stop. With different flavors of cream cheese, a bagel can be personalized to the customer’s liking. Having flexible store hours, it’s the perfect place to stop for breakfast both before school and on the weekend!

Overall, there are so many delicious breakfast places around Charleston. Whether you are craving some chicken or just a yummy coffee to get you going in the morning, these spots will supply you! Sophia and I highly recommend all of these restaurants and we hope that all the Raptor students can try a new breakfast place to stop by before school!