9 Tasty Breakfast Spots in Truckee

I've dedicated the last few posts to breakfast restaurants in South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe that deserve your attention. In the words of John Gunther, "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast." And this applies to the Truckee area, too.

The sister township to the Lake Tahoe basin, Truckee is a growing mountain town that is quickly becoming a metropolitan paradise. Within that growth are ever-evolving opportunities to get a tasty bite in the morning hours. Keep reading to learn my nine favorite places to fuel up for an adventure when in Truckee.

Photo: Donner Lake Kitchen serves Gravy and Biscuits with beautiful appeal.

Squeeze In

Located in Old Town Truckee, this tiny, welcoming dining opportunity is known far and wide for having the best omelettes on the planet. And that comes with a guarantee! You read that right. If you don't like your food, then you get it free! That's how much the crew at Squeeze In stand behind the delicious food that they serve up. In fact, their mission is to love and support your tummy and taste buds the same way a loving family supports you in life. To fulfill such lofty aspirations, their menu offers, of course, out-of-this-world omelettes as well as all of the breakfast favorites like pancakes, waffles, breakfast burritos, four flavors of Benedicts, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steak. They also serve delicious oatmeal, a scrumptious sweet potato breakfast bowl and maybe the best avocado toast you will ever find. They also offer a few lunch items like Grandpa Marvin's French Dip, a classic B.L.A.T (that's Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado and Tomato) as well as an option-rich build-your-own sandwich, burrito or burger menu. They are open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Donner Lake Kitchen

Situated across the street from Donner Lake, Donner Lake Kitchen is an absolute favorite for enjoying a leisurely morning meal and the company of your favorite people. As one of the longer-running breakfast restaurants in Truckee (serving up morning meals since 1970), Donner Lake Kitchen is a place that you go to when you need a hearty breakfast that makes you feel good. The delicious breakfasts come in huge portions and are made from the best ingredients possible. Serving all forms of breakfast deliciousness, their menu has items hot from the griddle like flapjacks and French toast as well as omelettes, traditional egg breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches as well as fruit and cereal. Donner Lake Kitchen is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo: Flapjacks are a treasure at Donner Lake Kitchen.

Wild Cherries Coffee House

With the tagline, "Good feelings, great coffee and great fare," it's no wonder that Wild Cherries is most definitely a hot spot for grabbing a cup of joe and a quick bite to eat. Located on busy Donner Pass Road, it is situated perfectly to be the starting point for any adventure, whether on Donner Summit, Castle Peak or Northstar. They have a great selection of bakery items as well as hot breakfast sandwiches, bagel sandwiches, breakfast wraps and homemade granola. Their hot drink menu is extensive and includes a plethora of versions of coffees as well as teas, chai latte and hot chocolate. This is also the place for tasty smoothies and protein shakes. Another bonus to Wild Cherries is that their lunch items are served all day, making it easy to pack a great lunch for that long day out in the wilderness. Wild Cherries is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jax at the Tracks

With its location situated in an authentic 1948 Pullman diner from Philadelphia, Jax at the Tracks is like stepping back in time. With the feel of the 1950s, Jax at the Tracks is a chance to reconnect to the glory of the old days. It's also a favorite place to nurse a hangover. The menu is packed full of goodness, with all of the regular fare plus fun dishes like Jax Corn Beef Hash, banana pancakes or Paleo Kitchen Sink Hash. Although the restaurant is open from morning to night, breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wagon Train Coffee Shop

With the distinction of being longest-running breakfast establishment in the entire Tahoe basin, Wagon Train Coffee Shop has a story that makes you proud to be a patron. It was started by Reg and Arline Smart in 1947, and Old Man Smart lived to be the ripe old age of 93 when he passed away in June of 2010. Their youngest son, Brian, who had started mopping floors at age 10, took over in 1976 and has kept Wagon Train rolling ever since! Wagon Train is truly the quintessential family-run business. They also serve up a mean breakfast. With servings well-sized and menu choices in plentiful supply, Wagon Train's breakfast is easy to come back to over and over again. Wagon Train is open from 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coffee And

A welcoming vibe and great food keep Coffee And a place that locals love to frequent. One of the things that I love most about Coffee And is their pancake selection and how they somehow make their pancakes fluffier than the rest. A few other menu items that deserve a special shout-out include their chorizo and eggs as well as their cinnamon rolls, which some vote as the best in town. Coffee And is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closing at 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).

Photo: A cup of joe at Coffee And helps anyone feel ready for the day ahead.

Full Belly Deli

Full Belly Deli is known as one of the best places in the entire area for sandwiches, but they also have a breakfast menu that ranks up there. Maybe not as huge as some of the other breakfast dining options, Full Belly Deli still serves up the needed calories in a delicious way to make your day out and about a success. A few of my favorites on their breakfast menu include their huge Gnar Gnar Burrito that is a double serving of tri-tip steak, pepper jack cheese, green chile, hash browns, Southwest sauce and a fried egg; their Breakfast B.L.T that comes with applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, spicy mayo and a fried egg; or their Green Eggs and Ham that comes with eggs, pesto, all-natural fire-smoked ham and Swiss cheese on your choice of bread. If you're in a hurry, be sure to call ahead as Full Belly Deli can be exceptionally busy. Their hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. except for Saturdays when they open at 10 a.m. They are closed on Sundays.

Smokey's Kitchen

Smokey's is one of those places that has a special place in my heart. When I first moved to Tahoe in the mid-'90s, Smokey's was located in Olympic Valley and was the place for all of us locals to grab a bite to eat on lazy mornings and in the summer. They ended up closing but years later reopened in Truckee to everyone's joy. Luckily for us all, their great vibe and excellent food returned with gusto. Smokey's menu is known for BBQ dishes, but they also have a huge breakfast menu that has a plethora of super-tasty dishes that are hearty and filling. Beyond all of the favorites like omelettes, items off the griddle and egg dishes, they also have a Mexican breakfast menu that offers various forms of breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros. Smokey's offers breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon.

Coffeebar

As the name suggest, Coffeebar is, of course, all about coffee. But they are much, much more. Coffeebar is basically the morning place to go if you want to be around the movers and the shakers of Truckee. Situated on Jibboom Street, just off the bustling old town promenade of Donner Pass Road, Coffeebar is basically where all of the cool kids come to play. Why? Because Coffeebar has brought to Truckee the radically cool Italian cafe experience, complete with an artistic, edgy ambiance, a morning espresso that will knock your pants off as well as mouth-watering wines that only the Italian cafe culture can inspire. Their menu is filled with locally sourced and farmed ingredients, end everything is made in-house in their amazing bakery that is situated in a different facility. Coffeebar is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo: For a sophisticated breakfast, hit up Coffeebar.

For entertaining events in Truckee and elsewhere, be sure to check out our Daytime and Nightlife sections.